How Nebraska thrived in key moments of one-score win over Rutgers

Fourth-and-10 turned into one final incompletion. One more reminder that the Huskers are finally running toward the big moments.

Saturday’s 14-7 win over Rutgers came stuffed with Nebraska swing plays. The Huskers converted 10 of 22 chances on third and fourth downs while holding the Scarlet Knights to 4 for 20 in such spots.

Nebraska executed a fake-punt pass play and scored a touchdown on fourth downs. It held the visitors out of the end zone on six plays inside the Husker 5-yard line, including a Marques Buford deflection on the money down from the 2.

Players danced around time and again, celebrating like they passed a test they had studied — and practiced — hard for all week.

“We feel no pressure no more,” NU safety DeShon Singleton said. “We don’t have no pressure on us. It’s just like, ‘Go out there and play football and have fun doing it. Make a play when the play comes to you.’”

That goal-line stand in the third quarter? Safety Isaac Gifford said Nebraska on Friday had walked through every single one of the plays Rutgers showed there.

That final Williams sack? He said he set up the opposing right tackle, noticing on film that the blocker would be susceptible to a spin because he tends to lean forward.

“It was just about trying to make sure I set my moves up all to be in the fourth quarter,” Williams said. “Then just throw my fastball.”

Sixth-year linebacker Javin Wright flashed a grin at the mindset shift. He’s been on Nebraska teams that wondered what would happen in a key spot. Third and fourth downs came with nerves.

Results bore out why. The Huskers haven’t posted a winning record in one-score contests since 2016, going 10-34 overall — including 9-26 in Big Ten affairs — since then until Saturday. An overtime loss to Illinois two weeks ago conjured up old demons externally. Players used it to insist a new trend is arriving.

“We took this game in our hands and said we were going to win this game,” Wright said. “We raised our fist and said we are going to win this game, each individual. We all did our part in the fourth quarter — and playmakers make plays.”

Nebraska converted all three of its fourth-down attempts. The first came on its opening drive from its own 36-yard line as running back Dante Dowdell powered ahead for three yards on a power look on fourth and 1. A fourth-and-goal situation from the Rutgers 1 on the next possession saw extra blocker Micha Mazzccua and fullback Barret Liebentritt pave the way for Dowdell to push into the end zone.

“We’re not playing around,” tight end Thomas Fidone said. “We’re coming there to score.”

Punter Brian Buschini’s 30-yard fake deep throw to Jaylen Lloyd on fourth and 8 in the fourth quarter kept a drive going and spent nearly three more minutes of game time.

The Blackshirts turned rose up during high-stakes snaps, too.

They stopped a fake field-goal run on fourth down in the first quarter, swarming holder Timmy Ward well short of the line to gain. A second-quarter fourth and 3 saw Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis roll left and fire an interception to Marques Buford, who jumped a short route. Buford was later in on the pass breakup on fourth and goal that preserved a 14-0 lead.

“As a defense we all were looking at each other like, ‘They’re not scoring,’” defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher said after the blocked punt backed up the NU defense by its own end zone. “That’s what we told ourselves. We were excited to go play football when we were down there on the 5-yard line.”

Nebraska’s defense held back a Rutgers attack that had been converting third downs at a clip greater than 50%, among the top 20 nationally. The Husker ‘D’ itself had allowed opponents to convert a combined 41% of third and fourth downs so far, among the bottom half of FBS schools.

This time, a one-score game went Nebraska’s way. Players headed for home Saturday not exhaling in relief but thirsty for the next chance to do something special. To make more memories. To have more fun.

“I know the offense is going to score when we need it and we’re going to get a stop when we need it,” Gifford said. “We’re just going to continue trusting each other and we’ll get it right.”