Husker Dan: Nebraska Wins a ‘No-Win’ Game

Saturday’s dwelling opener for Nebraska was towards North Dakota College – not perennial FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Nonetheless, Nebraska managed to beat the Combating Hawks by pulling away within the fourth quarter to make the win look a bit higher than it actually was.

The issue with enjoying a workforce just like the North Dakota is that it was a no-win state of affairs for Nebraska. Why?

As a result of if the Huskers had received by solely three factors, critics would have mentioned, “They ought to have received the sport. It is simply an FCS workforce.” And had the Huskers received by 50 factors, their response would have been the identical.

Because it turned out, the Huskers received by 21 factors (38-17), scoring the final three TDs and shutting down the Hawks within the last quarter.

So what does Nebraska’s win imply? For one factor, the Huskers picked up their first win in over 11 months. (They beat Northwestern 56-7 final Oct. 2  in Lincoln.) It is superb the Husker program has slipped to that stage.

What the Huskers can take from this recreation moreover the win is the manner they received the sport. After struggling for the higher a part of three quarters, the Huskers discovered a option to really win an in depth recreation ultimately. To make certain, the victory was over an FCS workforce that was 5-6 final yr. However nonetheless, a win is a win is a win.

Had been the Huskers experiencing the consequences of jet lag Saturday?

Possibly. However the Huskers appeared to shift into one other gear late within the third quarter to place a giant cushion on the win. Credit score Hawks coach Bubba Schweigert with getting his workforce able to play in entrance of 85,000 partisan Husker followers. NDU proved to be a formidable foe.

My Husker MVPs for the sport are:

Offense: Operating again Anthony Grant. He jogs my memory of the best way former Husker nice Ameer Abdullah used to play. Saturday, AG ran for 189 yards and scored two touchdowns. He’s a troublesome out.

Protection: Edge rusher Garrett Nelson. His sack and strip of North Dakota quarterback Tommy Schuster and fumble restoration by Husker defensive deal with Stephon Wynn was a recreation changer for Nebraska. All afternoon, Nelson was a power. He by no means appeared to stop. Good work, Mr. Nelson.

Particular Groups: My vote goes to punter Brian Buschini, who averaged 42 yards a kick and allowed zero return yardage. Most of his punts landed contained in the Combating Hawks’ 20 yard line.

Play of the sport

It was third and 14 from the Huskers’ personal 7 yard line with 10 minutes remaining within the recreation with the Huskers clinging to a 24-17 lead. If the Huskers do not make a primary down, NDU was going to get the ball again with nice area place. However Casey Thompson lobbed a superbly arched go that Trey Palmer leaped to seize for a 31-yard achieve and a crucial first down. The Huskers went on to attain on that drive, making the rating a cushty 31-17.

Subsequent up

Georgia Southern (an FBS workforce). The Eagles deliver to Lincoln a QB (Kyle Vantrease) who performed final yr in Memorial Stadium when his Buffalo Bulls workforce misplaced to Nebraska 28-3. This Saturday’s recreation might be loads just like the North Dakota recreation. The Huskers have to have an amazing week of follow in the event that they need to win this one. Let’s hope Coach Frost can maintain the deal with GS and never the Oklahoma Sooners.

How ’Bout Them Huskers

This week grandson Will and I hash over the North Dakota recreation and take a peek forward at this week’s Georgia Southern night time recreation at Memorial Stadium.