Nov. 9, 1963 - The fatality rate among fumbling football teams normally runs high, and Kansas helped to swell the total today by dropping a 23-9 decision to Nebraska after giving away 10 points on fumbles in the first seven minutes of the game. The Jayhawks spent the rest of the afternoon trying to make up for these two mistakes and nearly succeeded as Gale Sayers (pictured) stunned the Huskers with a record 99-yard touchdown run early in the fourth period to cut the Jayhawks’ deficit to 10-9. Nebraska had just punted to the Kansas 1 on the third play of the quarter, and with it appeared the Huskers were in control. But on the first play from scrimmage, Sayers zoomed out of the end zone on a sweep, avoided a tackler at the 10, and ran off from his closest pursuers. In racing 99 yards from scrimmage, Sayers set a new conference record. The previous record was set by Meredith Warner of Iowa State against Iowa in 1943. Warner’s record was 98 yards. Gary Duff attempted to kick the extra point, but his kick was slightly wide, and the Jayhawks were still down by a point. Nebraska responded to this challenge by driving 75 yards for a touchdown in 11 plays to take a 16-9 lead and then scored on the first play from scrimmage following the kickoff when Bob Hohn intercepted a pass and raced 53 yards. The victory was the Huskers’ fifth straight in conference competition and kept them in the Big Eight lead, a half-game ahead of Oklahoma. As a result of today’s victory, it now appears that the Big Eight title will be decided when the Huskers meet Oklahoma in Lincoln November 23. Nebraska’s season record is 7-1.
