‘That one hurt’: Georgia Southern upsets Huskers

LINCOLN, Neb. — Kyle Vantrease scored on an 8-yard run with 36 seconds left after Nebraska had taken its first lead, and Georgia Southern defeated the three-touchdown-favorite Cornhuskers 45-42 on Saturday evening.

The Huskers’ Timmy Bleekrode was large left with a 52-yard area purpose try as time ran out, and Georgia Southern gamers ran onto the sphere to have fun this system’s first win in 13 video games in opposition to Energy 5 opponents.

It was additionally the third main upset of the day from Solar Belt Convention packages. Earlier than the Eagles labored their magic, Marshall upended Notre Dame and Appalachian State knocked off Texas A&M. All three wins have been on the street.

The loss once more turns up the strain on embattled Nebraska coach Scott Frost, who now faces a house recreation subsequent week in opposition to No. 7 Oklahoma.

“That one harm,” Frost mentioned. “We win as a group and lose as a group, and we acquired beat right now. We acquired beat on schemes, and I did not actually have a solution.

“They acquired after us.”

The Huskers (1-2) had come into the Georgia Southern recreation 214-0 when scoring a minimum of 35 factors at Memorial Stadium. The Eagles (2-0) piled up 642 yards, none greater than the 75 they moved in 11 performs for the successful landing.

Vantrease transformed a fourth-and-2 move and threw 27 yards to Khaleb Hood earlier than he took off up the center on a designed quarterback run for the go-ahead rating.

Casey Thompson moved the Huskers from their 23 to the Eagles’ 34 earlier than Bleekrode pulled his field-goal attempt to the left.

Nebraska had taken the lead on Thompson’s 1-yard run with 3:05 left after Marques Buford’s second interception of the sport turned again the Eagles as they tried to construct on a three-point lead.

Thompson led the Huskers 98 yards in 15 performs. Thompson and Anthony Grant churned out yards on the bottom and Marcus Washington made a catch on the 1 that was upheld on video overview earlier than Thompson went over the pile on the purpose line.

The victory is available in solely the second recreation for Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton, and it got here nearly a 12 months to the day that Southern California fired him two video games into his seventh season.

“I am so pleased with our boys,” Helton mentioned.

Vantrease, who was quarterback for Buffalo when it misplaced at Nebraska final 12 months, was 37 of 56 for 409 yards. Gerald Inexperienced ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns and Jalen Allen had 85 yards and two scores.

“They ran a variety of what we had already seen,” Frost mentioned of Georgia Southern, “however I do not suppose we received very many one-on-one matchups.”

Thompson ran for 3 touchdowns and was 23 of 34 for 318 yards and a rating. Grant carried 27 occasions for 138 yards and a rating.

The Eagles started the transition from the Championship Subdivision to the Bowl Subdivision in 2013, the identical 12 months they defeated Florida for his or her solely different win over a Energy 5 group.