Dallas, Texas, Jan. 1, 1980--Reserve quarterback Terry Elston threw a 6-yard fourth-down touchdown pass to Eric Herring with just 12 seconds left in the game as Houston handed Nebraska a heart-breaking 17-14 loss in the 44th Cotton Bowl game--another in a six-year string of incredible finishes in Husker bowl games.

Before a CBS-TV national audience and 72,032 on hand in Dallas' famous oval, the Huskers and Cougars battled tooth-and-nail for a full 60 minutes. The goal-line situation at the end was a fitting finale.

Nebraska struck first as I-back Jarvis Redwine scored on a 9-yard run late in the first period, but Houston came back to tie, 7-7, at halftime on an 8-yard Elston run early in the second period.

After a scoreless third period, Southwest Conference champion Houston took its first lead of the game, 10-7, on a 41-yard field goal by Ken Hatfield with 8:25 left in the game. The Huskers made little headway against the Cougar defense in the second half, but took advantage of a Houston fumble to drive 31 yards in six plays to take a 14-10 lead on Jeff Quinn's 6-yard touchdown pass with 3:56 left.

The next 3:44 were all Terry Elston, as the junior accounted for all but 11 yards in the Cougars' winning 66-yard drive, completing five of seven passes for 45 yards, including three for crucial first downs and rushing three times for 10 yards.

1980 Cotton Bowl

Scoring Summary
First Quarter
NU-Jarvis Redwine 9 run (Dean Sukup kick), 5:13

Second Quarter
UH-Terry Elston 8 run (Ken Hatfield kick), 12:17

Fourth Quarter
UH-FG Hatfield 41, 8:25.
NU-Jeff Finn 6 pass from Jeff Quinn (Sukup kick), 3:56
UH-Eric Herring 6 pass from Elston (Hatfield kick), 0:12