Blackshirts key Husker victory
Todd Neeley
sports@hastingstribune.com
LINCOLN — Nebraska's defensive players insist they're just doing what they do, as they did again in a hard-fought 10-3 win past No. 20 Oklahoma in Lincoln Saturday night.

The play of the Husker defense was anything but ordinary.

Nebraska Blackshirts were on the field for 87 plays against the Sooners — forcing five turnovers, including three interceptions by senior safety Matt O'Hanlon, all of them putting to rest what appeared to promising OU drives.

Every time the Oklahoma offense came knocking, Nebraska had an answer.

"In a game like this you just have to suck it up," O'Hanlon said. "It's a big win, but you've gotta move on."

The biggest defensive play of the game — among many — was O'Hanlon's final interception inside the Nebraska 5-yard line with 27 seconds to play, sealing the upset. O'Hanlon posted a career-high 12 tackles, including nine in the first half.

O'Hanlon tied the school record as he became the fourth player in Nebraska history to intercept three passes in a game, and the first since Ric Lindquist who had three picks against Kansas State in 1979.

"He has great character and resolve," Pelini said. "He's one of our leaders."

In a game full of big defensive plays, Nebraska junior corner Prince Amukamara returned an interception to the Oklahoma 1-yard line early in the second quarter. That set up what turned out to be the winning touchdown, a 1-yard pass from Zac Lee to Ryan Hill.

"That was a huge play in the game," Pelini said. "That kick-started it."

Senior linebacker and Oklahoma native Phillip Dillard finished with eight tackles, including a 13-yard sack in the first quarter and two tackles for a loss. Dillard also came up with a big interception with 2:25 to play to stop an OU into Nebraska territory.

Sophomore Jared Crick finished with eight tackles, including a six-yard sack alongside Barry Turner. That pushed Crick's season total to nine sacks, the most by any Husker since 2005. Ndamukong Suh finished with four tackles.

Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini said the play of the Husker defense was one of the best he's seen.

"I've had some great ones, but this rates right up there," he said. "We found a way to hang in there. I feel good for those kids. I feel good for our football team. You have to do what you do to win any game.

"When you play 87 plays you've gotta find and extra reserve. It's about finding a way to reach down deep."