The Catch

Lincoln, November 22,1986 -
Oklahoma trailed Nebraska 17-7 in the 4th quarter and 17-10 with 4:10 left in the game, when a Husker punt pinned the Sooners 94 yards from the Nebraska end zone. Jamelle Holieway fumbled on a 4th-down play at the OU 15, but a facemask penalty gave the Sooners new life. Holieway responded with a 35-yard pass to Derrick Sheppard, and with 1:22 left, all-American Keith Jackson snagged an 18-yard TD pass. Barry Switzer then ordered a kick, not wanting to risk a 2-point conversion. A 17-17 tie seemed likely. On the contrary, NU QB Steve Taylor threw 3 straight incompletions, and OU got the ball back. On 3rd-and-12 from the Sooner 45, Holieway threw to Jackson, who made a sensational one-handed catch and sprinted down the sideline for a 41-yard gain. With 9 seconds left, Tim Lasher came on and kicked a 31-yard field goal that handed OU the Big 8 Championship and a berth in the Orange Bowl.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Oklahoma
• OU
• Sooners
• Football
• Classic
• Memories

[nunnenkamp]

as a die hard nebraska fan...my good lord we want you guys back every year...

playing a team with fans that know what a football game is supposed to look like is getting kinda rare up here... you guys wanna just scrimmage at the end of the year and call it a grudge match? sure beats playing those idiots in colorado

[BBoyd27]

i miss the old days of oklahoma vs nebraska after thanksgiving when the game actually meant something to both teams. Probably will never see anything like it again. You had 2 great teams playing for not only a conference title but almost every year a national title. I have great respect for nebraska and hope one day they return to their glory days again. Man the memories

[ewconnection]

Too bad the OU/Nebraska series has ended. One of the truly great rivalries. I also despise the BCS. The Big Ten champion should play in the Rose Bowl just as the Big 12 champ should compete in the Orange Bowl. The premier bowl games should be played on New Year's Day.

[Sooner74112]

I'm an OU grad and a student from '79 to '84. I can't say I liked Nebraska, but unlike Texas, there was at least grudging respect; always great players and a program without scandal and above reproach. Whenever we met their fans we invited them into our tailgate party and wished them well; met a lot of nice folks. Wish we were back to playing every year, it was always the highlight of my Thanksgiving holiday.

[rsimonse]

Switzer went for the tie late in the game which was a great move because Nebraska I think threw three straight incompletions when they got the ball back which left the Sooners with just enough time to win. I always felt like Switzer knew what he was doing all along and even though he played for the tie he knew he could get the win if Osborne tried to throw. Switzer did usually have better talent than Osborne but he also outcoached him a few times too -- and this is a Husker fan talking

[maximumchristian]

rematch this year

[theCHKgroup123]

Now sometimes when you look up the catch you might see the last second catch of the LSU vs AUBURN game

[Tulsagolfomatic]

The most respectful and talented rivalry college football has ever seen. The time will come again. Much respect to the Husker fans.

[simpsons4lfe011]

"And this is a thirty-one second kick."

"thirty-one yards, actually."

"9 seconds."

[okla1982]

I agree, i was in Neb for the 2001 game, and I had on my OU gear, but the husker fans are the coolest bunch of people I've ever seen.

[huskerfan4life]

I miss the NU vs OU games where it was for all the marbles.