Nebraska
Penalties, Punts and Pitiful Placekicking Precede the Huskers’ Pounding of Purdue with Proficient Production
On a cool and cloudy day in West Lafayette, the Nebraska Cornhuskers rebounded from an anemic first half to soundly defeat the Purdue Boilermakers 28-10 and move to 4-1 on the season. It was an unusually ugly first half as the two teams combined for four missed or blocked field goals, seven punts, going 1 for 12 on third down conversions and committing 129 yards in penalties. In fact, at intermission, Purdue had 90 yards in penalties and just 89 yards of total offense. They had four punts to go with just five pass completions. The Huskers crossed the Purdue 40-yard line on all six first half possessions and racked up 210 yards of offense without scoring a point. Including the end of the Illinois game, it was eight straight possessions by Nebraska inside the other team’s 40 without points. It was a game that deserved to be on Peacock so that a limited viewership had to witness the ineptitude.
The second half began with Purdue consuming 8:08 of the third quarter clock before John Bullock made an impressive stop on third and short to force a Boiler trey. The Huskers then scored on their next three possessions on touchdown drives of 70, 63, and 57 yards, while the defense forced two 3 and outs with Purdue netting -7 and then -1 yards. Purdue’s next drive resulted in a 29-yard pick six by Bullock and at 28-3, the rout was on. It was the Colorado game in reverse in that the Huskers scored all their points after intermission instead of before.
The teams combined for 24 penalties totaling 259 yards. Purdue compiled 165 yards in penalties with every defensive penalty being at least 10 yards. They committed five pass interference penalties as they could not contain Isaiah Neyor, Jahmal Banks, or Heinrich Haarberg. Nebraska had its share of the laundry as well, including an absolutely atrocious offensive pass interference penalty on Thomas Fidone who actually avoided contact with the defender. The flag wiped out a 22-yard touchdown by Rahmir Johnson in the second quarter. The nonsense finally culminated with a fourth quarter 10-yard holding penalty on Jahmal Banks that prompted Matt Rhule to slam his headset to the ground incurring an additional 15-yard personal foul. At that point, I didn’t blame Coach Rhule as the Big Ten officials make middle school referees look like professionals. Facing 2nd and 29, Dylan Raiola completed a pass to Emmett Johnson that picked up 27 yards plus another 15 tacked on for a facemask. The Huskers scored two plays later.
The Blackshirts held the Boilers to 50 yards rushing and 174 yards passing. Purdue managed a consolation touchdown against reserves with 1:29 left in the game, but the defense has now held four of five opponents to 10 points or less this season. Nebraska totaled five sacks in the victory, its second-highest total of the season (six vs. Colorado) and recorded nine tackles for loss. Saturday was the second opponent Nebraska has held scoreless in the first half (Colorado) and the defenders have allowed just three points in the second quarter this season. Nebraska is one of only seven teams who has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season and including last season, the Huskers have not allowed a rushing touchdown in 10 of their past 12 games.
Ceyair Wright, filling in for Tommi Hill, had another outstanding game co-leading the defense with five tackles and two pass breakups. Mikai Gbayor also had five stops in the game. James Williams with 2 sacks and M.J. Sherman with 1.5 sacks both set career highs in that category on Saturday. Williams’ two sacks are the most by a Husker this season and the most since Nash Hutmacher had 2.5 sacks against Northwestern last season. Ty Robinson added another sack and Kai Wallin shared a sack with Sherman. Bullock, Mario Buford, Jimari Butler, and Keona Davis all chipped in with tackles for loss. The pick-six by Bullock was his first career interception and was heartily celebrated by his teammates as the pick was a just reward for a guy who has been working his butt off on defense. It marked Nebraska’s second interception for a touchdown this season (Tommi Hill vs. Colorado) and it marks the first time since 2017 that Nebraska has had two pick-six TDs in a season. In finishing +1 in turnovers Saturday, Nebraska improves to +5 on the season with the Huskers outscoring opponents 31-0 in points off turnovers.
Dylan Raiola finished 17-of-27 for 257 yards and a touchdown, as he connected with eight different receivers. He has also thrown at one touchdown pass in all five games this season. He was sacked just once as the Huskers started their third string left tackle, Gunnar Gottula, following the injury to Turner Corcoran last week. The offensive line generally gave Raiola plenty of time in pass protection but struggled in the first half with run blocking as the Huskers only had 49 yards rushing on 13 attempts. They seemed to improve as the game wore on, though, finishing with 161 yards on the ground on 31 carries yielding two touchdowns.
Senior receiver Jahmal Banks caught a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter for Nebraska’s first points. It marked his second touchdown of 2024 (UTEP) and his 15th career receiving touchdown. Banks finished the day with five catches for 82 yards and has 13 receptions the past two weeks. Thomas Fidone had 3 catches for 39 yards and Jaylen Lloyd nabbed one grab for 25 yards.
Jacory Barney Jr. led Nebraska with 66 yards rushing on four carries, including a career-high 31-yard run and a 25-yard touchdown run. Barney entered the game with 38 yards rushing. He also had two catches for 28 yards. His speed is electric and has to be a challenge to defend. Emmett Johnson totaled 98 all-purpose yards (50 rushing, 48 passing) on just 10 touches. Johnson’s 48 receiving yards were a career high (43 vs. UNI) while his 27-yard reception was also career long. Johnson seems to spark the team when he enters the game as he has a wiggle and a burst that nets solid gains. Dante Dowdell (9 carries for 21 yards) was stuffed more often than not but got a 1-yard fourth down fourth quarter touchdown to put the Huskers up 14-3. The play was aided by a great block by Barret Liebentrit who nailed two defenders on the edge.
Special teams were a disaster and if not improved will cost the Huskers at least a game or two down the stretch. With Tristan Alvano still nursing a groin injury, back-up kicker John Hohl missed his first field goal attempt from 42-yards. The second and third attempts were blocked after bad snaps that holder Brian Buschini barely got set. Camden Witucki replaced Aidan Flege as the snapper after the first block, and at least managed decent snaps on four subsequent extra point attempts. The errant snaps may have cost us the game last week and must be maddening for a coaching staff that has to consider keeping the offense on the field no matter the fourth down yardage. Blockers on punt returns are whiffing on blocks and gunners on punt coverage are getting lost in the end zone rather than downing punts inside the 5-yard line. Punter Brian Buschini did manage to get two of three punts inside the 20 and had touchbacks on four of five kickoffs while making three tackles on punt and kick coverage.
After last week’s gut punch loss that had presented so many opportunities to win, you take any road win you can get in the Big Ten. The Huskers likely gained a bit of confidence with their second half performance against a mediocre Purdue team as Nebraska has yet to play a four-quarter game. In his presser, Coach Matt Rhule stated, “It might not be for everybody, but we are just a growing team.” He has continued to stress the long game of growth and maturity. Kids make mistakes. It’s up to the coaches to help them learn and develop. It will certainly help if the Huskers find that four-quarter game next Saturday as the undefeated and likely ranked Scarlet Knights from Rutgers make their appearance in Memorial Stadium. Hopefully, the team can take the next step toward bowl eligibility. Go Big Red!!!
MORE: Tad Stryker: Ground Game Grit
MORE: I-80 Club After Dark: Nebraska is 4-1 After a 28-10 Win Over Purdue
MORE: The Turning Point: Nebraska at Purdue
MORE: Adam Carriker Gut Reaction: Nebraska Football’s Ugly, Bounce-Back Win Over Purdue
MORE: WATCH: Nebraska Football Coach Matt Rhule Postgame; Cornhuskers Top Boilermakers
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.
A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.
And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.
Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.
Monitoring system
We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.
Here are the numbers since 2023:
In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.
But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.
But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.
Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.
One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.
For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.
Born with a rare heart defect
Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.
“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”
His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.
“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.
The decision to operate
That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.
“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”
His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.
“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.
Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.
“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.
For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.
“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.
The comeback
Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.
“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.
Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.
“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.
Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.
“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.
Landstrom called it a special moment.
“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.
For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.
“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”
Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.
“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
4-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
14-19-24-30-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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