Nebraska running back Jaquez Yant (0) rushes the ball for a first down against Minnesota in the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Parker Gabriel weighs in with his report card from the Huskers’ game against Minnesota.
Rahmir Johnson got loose for 25 on an option pitch and NU creased one run with Jaquez Yant, but Nebraska could not consistently move Minnesota up front early on. Johnson got going in the second half, but had to come out of the game due to an injury. Yant then tripped on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1 and got stuffed. The Gophers did a good job of mitigating quarterback Adrian Martinez in the run game.
Martinez missed six of his first seven and he and his receivers looked out of sync the entire first half (6-of-14 for 62 yards). In the second half, the Huskers got rolling, but UM’s pressure still showed up big in key moments. The biggest: A fourth-quarter safety that extended UM’s lead to 23-17. Martinez hit some big throws in the second half and missed some, too. Austin Allen had the best receiving game of his career with five catches for 112 yards and a TD.
When Minnesota took the field with 7:11 left in the game and a five-point lead, it had rushed 32 times for 91 yards. Its big, physical offensive line looked good at times, but the Huskers held their own for the most part. Minnesota didn’t do much for more than 3½ quarters, but got a first down and then a 56-yard Bryce Williams touchdown run to put the game on ice with 2:12 remaining. Before that carry, UM’s longest on the day was 14 yards.
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