NU 2-Point Conversion Try Fails; Hurricanes Escape With 31-30 Win

1984 Orange Bowl

NU guard Dean Steinkuhler, No. 71, bottom center, picks up the intentionally-dropped ball and heads left behind Mark Benning, No. 73. Steinkuhler scored on a 19-yard Fumbleroosky; that's Miami's Winston Moss, No. 92, following quarterback Turner Gill.MIAMI - Miami staked its claim to its first national title Monday night when Ken Calhoun broke up a gamewinning 2-point conversion pass with 48 seconds left to preserve the Hurricanes' shocking 31-30 victory over No. 1 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

The Huskers rallied from a 31-17 deficit with two touchdowns in the final 6:59.

Trailing 31 - 24 with 1:47 left, Nebraska marched 74 yards on seven plays. The Huskers pulled within 31-30 on Jeff Smith's 25-yard run on a option pitch from quarterback Turner Gill. Smith was playing for the injured Mike Rozier.

The Huskers started their comeback on a 75-yard touchdown march that Smith capped with a 1-yard run with 6:59 left to play.

Miami stunned the top - ranked Cornhuskers, and most likely just about everybody in the audience of millions watching the game, with its 17-0 lead in the first quarter.

Nebraska's response, when it looked like Miami might turn this game into a blowout Hurricane style, was two big plays to keep the Huskers from falling behind by an even bigger margin.

The first came when Mark Schellen chased down Miami's Eddie Brown to keep him from scoring on a punt return. Brown reached the Husker 38 on his 48 - yard return.

Three plays later, Nebraska cornerback Dave Burke intercepted a Kosar pass that helped the Huskers two ways. It was the first time Nebraska stopped Miami in the first half and the Huskers capitalized for their first touchdown, Steinkuhler's 19 - yard run on the Fumbleroosky.

Intentional Fumble
It's the same play that Nebraska used successfully against Oklahoma in 1979 when guard Randy Schleusener scored on an 11 - yard run.

Steinkuhler picked up the intentional fumbled snap and bulled his way around end. Miami defensive back Willie Martinez grabbed Steinkuhler at the 5, but couldn't stop him short of the goal line.

The Huskers trailed 17-7 after Steinkuhler's score with 8:54 left in the second quarter.

Kosar completed passes of 20 and 16 yards on Miami's next possession before throwing three straight incompletions.

The Hurricanes punted, and Nebraska got back into the game with a 10 - play, 64 - yard touchdown drive.

Ball Control
Gill produced the big play of the drive with his 22 - yard completion to Irving Fryar on a third - and - six play from the Miami 46.

From the 17, Rozier carried for 11 yards and five yards to the 1. Schellen gained nothing, but Miami was penalizied for being offside.

Gill scored with 2:17 left on a sneak from the 1 to make it 17 - 14.

Nebraska trailed at halftime despite controlling the ball over twice as long as the Hurricanes in the first half, 20:37 to 9:23.

But Miami made the most of its opportunities, gaining 237 yards to 237 for the Cornhuskers. Most of it came on Kosar's passing. He completed 10 of 23 for 178 yards. Nebraska's answer was Rozier, who rushed for 138 yards on 21 first - half carries.

Osborne said in the six - week pregame buildup that the difficulties of playing Miami at home was like starting the game 10 points behind.

It got much worse than that quickly. Miami's 17 points in the first quarter almost matched the total Nebraska's defense gave up during the entire regular season in the first quarter.

Nebraska gave up just 19 points in the first quarter in its 12 regular - season victories.

Momentum Shifts
The game's momentum changed quickly at the start. Nebraska's Rozier gained 27 and 18 yards on his first two carries, taking the Huskers to the Miami 30 on their first possession.

Then a fumbled snap by Gill on first down from the 30 hurt the Huskers. Nebraska stalled and Scott Livingston attempted a 45 - yard field goal.

Miami defensive tackle Kevin Fagan blocked it, only Livingston's fourth attempt of the season, and Fred Robinson, the Hurricanes' other defensive tackle, recovered the ball at the Miami 43.

Kosar completed his first pass of the game for 23 yards to Stanley Shakespeare. Following an 11 - yard run by Keith Griffin, Kosar threw again to Shakespeare, who carried to the Husker 1 - yard line on a 20 - yard reception.

It took two plays for the Hurricanes to score. After NU middle guard Ken Graeber dropped Albert Bentley for a 2 - yard loss, Kosar threw a 3 - yard touchdown pass to Miami tight end Glenn Dennison.

Long Field Goal
Nebraska's Burke stepped in front of Dennison for what appeared to be a sure interception and possible long return. Burke didn't get it and Kosar got the touchdown.

Miami's defense stopped the Huskers without a first down on their second possession and moved to a 10 - 0 lead on Jeff Davis' 45 - yard field goal, his longest of the season, with 4:51 left in the half.

The Hurricanes made it 17 - 0 after Gill threw his fifth interception of the season on Nebraska's third possession. Miami linebacker Jacinto Fernandez, who replaced starter Ken Sisk who was injured on the first play of the game, made an acrobatic interception of Gill's pass at the Miami 35.

It took the Hurricanes just five plays to strike for their third score, a 22 - yard pass to a wide open Dennison, his second touchdown of the game.