Last year's matchup between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Oklahoma State Cowboys went down to the game's final minute. This year's game was decided in the game's first quarter.

The Huskers jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and never had to look back as they cruised to a 38-14 Big XII Conference win over OSU. The win was the Huskers fifth of the season while the loss dropped OSU to 2-2.

Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch completed 7 of 13 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 61 yards and one touchdown to lead the charge.

"(Crouch) was in control of the game, and he was audibling well." said Husker head coach Frank Solich. ""He was doing everything a quarterback needs to do to give his team a chance to play good football."

Crouch scored the game's first touchdown on a four yard run in the first period. The play capped a 9 play, 51 yard drive that was set up when Oklahoma State's Nathan Simmons fumbled on OSU"s first play from scrimmage.

A 47 yard pass play from Crouch to tight end Tracey Wistrom on their next drive set the Huskers up at the 2 yard line. From there I-Back Correll Buckhalter scored the first of his two first quarter touchdowns.

The Huskers defense did their part to make things easy for the offense on the next drive when linebacker Brian Shaw blocked a Scott Elder punt that was recovered at the 8 yard line. Two plays later Buckhalter scored on an 8 yard run.

"When you have a 21-point barrage like that, it pretty much takes the team out of the game." admits OSU running back Nathan Simmons. "As a better ball club, you get down 21-points, we really have to rally around each other and get the job done. Today we didn't do that."

Nebraska opened things up in the second quarter. A 36 yard field goal by Josh Brown midway through the stanza gave the Huskers a 24-0 margin. They stretched that to 31-0 on the next drive thanks to a 16 yard pass from Crouch to Wistrom.

"It seems when it rains it pours. I either do nothing or have a really big game. " said Wistrom who finished with 116 yards in receiving yards. "I'm glad we're passing the ball more because Eric is putting the ball where it needs to be and our passing helps to set up our running game."

At the half Oklahoma State had yet to complete a pass and had just 45 yards rushing

Things looked much the same early in the second half. Nebraska took their opening drive 50 yards in 6 plays to score on a 6 yard Dan Alexander run to widen the lead to 38-0.

Oklahoma State finally got on the board on their subsequent drive. Quarterback B.J. Tiger tossed a 6 yard scoring pass to Marcellus Rivers. Oklahoma State added another score late in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard Jamaal Fobbs run.

"We didn't play as well in the second half, but I think that was probably because of a combination of things." Solich said. "After we scored on the opening drive in the second half we did not run Eric as much as we would have otherwise. To a degree it's a little discouraging because you're always looking to play four quarters of good football."

Nebraska had 240 yards rushing and 385 total offensive yards on the day. For the sixth time in seven games the Huskers did not have a rusher with more than 100 yards. Crouch led the ground attack with 61. Buckhalter finished with 55. Oklahoma State was held to 188 yards rushing and 85 yards through the air.

"The coaches did a great job of mixing things up and calling a lot of different formations." said wingback Bobby Newcombe. "I think we caught them off guard a little and that allowed us to have some big plays." Newcombe had 35 yards rushing on 4 carries.

The Huskers had three injuries in the game. Fullback Willie Miller sprained his left ankle. Backup quarterback Jeff Perino suffered a bruised quad and left guard James Sherman had a sprained ankle.