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November 25, 1950	at Norman	Attendance: 53,066

Relax, everyone. Everything is still under control by the Sooners, who obviously are in line for another Sugar Bowl bid in event they elect to accept.

There were times here Saturday afternoon when Nebraska's Bobby Reynolds threatened to personally conduct the Huskers into football's hall of fame by sparking a major upheaval, but Oklahoma eventually applied the brakes and stormed back strong for their thirtieth in a row, 49-35.

Operating superbly under intense pressure before a near-capacity turnout of 54,000 dazzled spectators the Sooners steamed back for victory with a bombastic 21-point rally in the third quarter to break the scoring orgy wide open.

Up to that point the Huskers were dynamite. Coming back gamely to erase a 14-point deficit and bursting in front for a 21-14 lead before the Oklahomans spun a 21-all tie at intermission while enroute to their third successive clearcut Big Seven championship.

Reynolds, slowed down perceptibly in the last half when the Sooners of Bud Wilkinson did an effective job of mending their defensive fences, ran wild during the first 30 minutes, scoring three times on sizable jaunts. He tacked on five extra points for the throbbing afternoon to head the lively scoring parade with 23 points.

But Nebraska's all-American hope found a willing taker and a remarkable sophomore match in the blazing person of Billy Vessels, the supercharged Sooner flash who completely dominated the yardage duel, scoring three times himself and hooking up a touchdown pass.

Not only that, but Vessels cut himself a generous helping of Reynolds' own thunder when the slashing halfback galloped 69 yards on the very kind of open field stuff for which the Cornhusker is so famous.

When Vessels electrified the mob with his cross-country tour Bill Glassford's able charges were still hanging fairly close to Oklahoma's heels at 35-21.

Vessels had all the best of the yardage match, averaging more than 11 yards per carry while piling up a total of 208 for his 18 carries. Though he was dangerous any time he laid hands to the ball, Reynolds finally was cut off with 89 yards in 24 tries -- his lowest scrimmage net of the year. He had one lone yard to show in the last half's net gain column.

Where Reynolds found the Oklahoma defense fairly vulnerable in the early phases of the game he was well checkmated down the stretch as the Sooners came back from intermission to take charge with two lightning-like touchdowns.

And even though the Huskers won the distinction of scoring more points on Oklahoma than has any other team in 1950 they were completely conquered after being dealt a 14-point smash in less than five minutes of the third quarter.

That started the Nebraskans downhill and Vessels zigzagging dash sealed their fate, completely.

It was a typical Sooner triumph, clean and so hard played that both clubs were dead tired but still firing all their guns at the finish, with Nebraska taking to the air and narrowing the staggering 84-point total to a two-touchdown difference.

Again the Sooners had to come from behind and again they were able to -- for the fifth time this season -- with another fierce offensive bolt in slightly more than 10 minutes of the third period.

The victors had the edge, all down through the statistical table, except in passing yardage, and even though Reynolds kicked up his heels at the outset the vaunted Husker ground game totaled only 169 yards to the Sooners' 384.

Until his style was solved and his fiery gait slowed in the last half, Reynolds' forte was a scoring surge, deep in Oklahoma territory, as he crossed on dashes of 20, 14 and 16 yards. Twice he floated wide and then turned loose a great flurry of speed to score standing up.

In the Sooner backfield, Vessels had the usual brilliant help from Leon Heath, and another excellently guided game by Claude Arnold, who was his usual brilliant self on his keeper runs and passing.

Oklahoma got another lift from a comparative newcomer. Merrill Green, who broke in as a starter at right halfback and ground out 77 yards on 15 spots to rank second in the winners individual efforts.

Jim Weatherall -- like Reynolds, every inch an all-American, booted home the extra points on all seven Oklahoma touchdowns. Norm McNabb, Dean Smith, Bert Clark and Tom Catlin all were defensive standouts.

Until they were injured Buddy Jones and Tommy Gray sparkled the same way in the secondary.

The crowd, biggest ever to see two Big Seven foes collide and second largest throng in Owen Field history, was treated to a rare display of scoring action all the way while each side managed to cross at least once in every quarter.

From a fan standpoint, this one had everything -- sustained drives, long runs and passes, a couple of fine stands by the Oklahoma defenders, and explosive running by Vessels and Reynolds. The breaks had a role, too, Nebraska cashing two fumbles to one by the Big Red.

The Wilkinsons started off as if they were to keep Reynolds glued to the ground while ripping the Cornhuskers to bits.

Oklahoma leaped in front by 7-0 in the first five minutes, scoring the first time it had the ball. Hammering their way into the south end zone with a strong wind blowing in their faces, the Sooners punched out 76 yards in 10 plays to shoot ahead.

Vessels launched his meteoric afternoon to lead the drive, rambling 22 yards on a quickie through center and then swinging wide to his right for 19 more. That put the ball on the Husker 24. Oklahoma kept punching away and, when set back to the 16 by a penalty, it promptly shook Arnold loose.

On his pet "keeper" the OU quarterback ran right end for the required 16 yards.

Oklahoma kicked off to Nebraska and Reynolds made the dreariest kind of a beginning, sinking eight yards into the red on his first three efforts.

The next time they came into possession, on a punt, the Sooners whisked 66 yards, needing but eight plays to lead 14-0. With Vessels throwing out a jarring block, Arnold clicked off 25 around right end to the Husker 45. Green, Heath and Arnold smashed to the 23. From here Arnold pitched to Heath who, sprung free by Jack Lockett's block, sped across.

Nebraska got its foot in the door with a Vessels fumble soon afterward. Carl Brasee flopped on the free ball, and from the OU 20, Reynolds hit a good hole at right guard and went the distance to put his teammates back in the running at 14-7.

Early in the second quarter an Oklahoma gamble almost backfired. The Sooners tried Heath on fourth and one on the Cornhuskers 46, and the invaders' ensuing march finally was thwarted on the Oklahoma 13.

But late in the same round the Huskers struck for the 14-all deadlock. They started from their own 37. Quarterback Fran Nagle, a deadly passer, hit Reynolds for 12 at midfield. Then on a reverse, fullback Nick Adduct cut around his left end on a reverse. He bolted 29 yards, to the OU 21.

Sooners Fumble

Bill Mueller hit for seven and from the 14 Reynolds lurked behind his line, picked out a vacant spot far to his right and went the route for the first of two ties. He added the placement.

The Sooner partisans had their uneasiest moments of the warm afternoon when Reynolds contributed his third touchdown -- and his second within a period of a minute and a quarter.

For the second time a Sooner fumble set the stage, Heath letting a pitchout get away from him with Dick Goeglein recovering on the Oklahoma 16. Once more Reynolds wasted no time or motion. A pass barely missed then the Nebraska sophomore wheeled around the right side for the score that hoisted the Huskers in front, 21-14, thanks to another Reynolds conversion.

Heath Runs 47 Yards

There was still more furious action before the half was up. Smarting from the sudden turn of events the Sooners dipped into their bag of tricks for a nifty. From his 31, and with the clock rapidly running out, Arnold flipped a short pass to Heath, on the east side.

The "Mule Train," aided by Lockett's block, finished 47-yards down the sideline before being hauled down on the Nebraska 11.

Green cracked off three yards. On the next play Arnold ran to his right, pitching to Vessels at the last split-second.

Vessels was out wide but veered back inside to fight his way the final eight yards. When Weatherall goaled it was 21 for everybody and in the last minute and two seconds to the intermission gun the Huskers still found time in which to mildly threaten.

The versatile Reynolds pegged to Ron Clark for 33 on the OU 38, but additional flips fell harmlessly to the ground.

To all intent and purpose the issue was settled in 10:20 of the third quarter, the Sooners serenely taking full charge with 21 points in that much of the period.

From the 21-21 deadlock Oklahoma stirred up the blast which left the Lincoln eleven hopelessly in arrears by 42-21.

Just as they had done at the game's start the Sooners took the kickoff and didn't look up until they saw seven more points in the hamper. They started from their 26. The long gainers included Vessels' 17-yard cutback to the Nebraska 39, and Arnold's 27-yard aerial to Kay Keller.

The latter's toss planted the ball on the five, after which Green made four and Arnold sneaked over from the one. That made it 28-21. Nebraska then handed back one of the earlier breaks. Catlin pouncing on a ball which was fumbled all the way back to the NU eight by the hemmed in Reynolds.

Oklahoma cashed in immediately. Vessels spinning all the way in just one play around left end. The Sooners led 35-21, and a pass interception by Ed Lisak, on Nagle's throw, helped set the stage for Vessels' bell ringer of the day.

Green knocked off 14 yards. From his 31 Vessels raced to his right. He was trapped. Carefully picking his spots, bowling over a couple of Huskers and taking full advantage of Lockett's vital block Vessels reversed his field. He slanted back across the field and then outraced the Nebraska secondary for his beautiful 69-yard classic which broke the Cornhuskers' big, strong backs at 42-21.

But Nebraska still had some comeback stuff, although not enough to win.

Adduct Goes 36

Late in the third period an Adduct end run for 36 yards gave Nebraska life on Oklahoma's 37. Nagle's accurate throwing began having telling effect. He located Clark for nine yards and Dick Resier for 14 more.

The last aerial put the ball on the Sooner 11. A roughing penalty went to the one and Nagle used a sneak for the score that found the Huskers trailing, 42-28.

The Sooner offense, which generated 28 last-half points, had one more stout punch left. Fairly early in the fourth period Vessels burst through center on a quick blast for 30 yards.

On Nebraska's 23 this same young man who by himself far outdistanced the Husker ground total as a team, took an Arnold pitchout and faked a run. Instead, he used the option for a throw. The air bullet was gathered in by John Reddell and Oklahoma owned its forty-ninth point of the day.

Ferguson Scores

Both sides showed the results of the breakneck pace in the waning moments, and Nagle kept plugging away through the air to escort Nebraska to the final harmless touchdown. Counting an interception Nagle connected seven times on a series which which started on his own 37. He pitched to Clark for 15 on the six, and then to Gerald Ferguson for the last six yards.

This closing Husker flurry found 53 seconds left in the game, and crossed up the odds makers who had installed Oklahoma as a three-touchdown favorite.

No one asked for his money back though not after a dozen touchdowns and a similar number of extra points from placement.

Source: The Oklahoman, EMan/SoonerTimes.com

1970s FOOTBALL BOOK

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