Nebraska defeats Rutgers: The Report Card

The Huskers were humming until they weren’t. Nebraska had 86 yards in the first half, as the offensive line opened noticeably large lanes to run. But, after the intermission, NU running backs generated just 39 yards. It’s tough to run with the lead — opponents expect it — but the Huskers needed to be better to take the stress out of this game. Rahmir Johnson made the most of his five carries, including an 18-yard spurt.

Dylan Raiola had the “worst” game of his young career, but doesn’t the true freshman deserve a pass after a superb start to his career? Either way, Raiola was off his game for long stretches, including a poor second half. He also gift-wrapped an easy interception to a grateful Flip Dixon. Let’s end on a high note: Raiola did have a beauty of a throw for a 31-yard gain to Jahmal Banks. The freshman had pressure right in his face and delivered a dime.

It was a little worrisome when Kyle Monangai piled up 64 yards on his first eight carries. From there, though, the Blackshirts limited the Rutgers’ go-to option to just 14 yards on eight carries. That’s (extremely!) impressive work by Nebraska. Was there an in-game adjustment, or did NU’s veteran leaders on defense decide early on that enough was enough?

A would-be touchdown ball doinking off of an unguarded Ben Black’s facemask summed it up. The Blackshirts harassed Athan Kaliakmanis all afternoon, and the 21-year-old had no answers except for throwing two interceptions and taking four sacks. Marques Buford had an outstanding game aside from slipping on the ball Black dropped. James “Sack Man” Williams starred with two sacks and the game-sealing QB pressure, which was effectively a sack but doesn’t count that way in the scorebook. 

The weeks change, but the difficulty of writing this section doesn’t. Where does one begin? Nebraska had two punts blocked, but Brian Buschini threw a perfect ball on an expertly timed fake punt. He also had two boots of over 60 yards, including a 69-yarder that backed Rutgers up near its own end zone as it tried to embark on a key drive at the end of the game. Get that man an ice pack! The TV broadcast repeatedly showed the punter wincing and writhing in pain.

Matt Rhule said he wanted the Huskers to cut out the pre- and post-snap penalties, and NU largely did that. NU didn’t commit a personal foul, which was a welcomed sight. The Huskers’ most ill-advised penalty of the day was Raiola’s intentional grounding. You’ll take that.

Marcus Satterfield had a brilliant call on Janiran Bonner’s touchdown run in the second quarter. Knowing that Jacory Barney had everyone’s attention, Satterfield sent Barney in pre-snap motion, drawing defenders’ eyes, and then Bonner ran in without being touched. The decoy play with Heinrich Haarberg was clever. The NU offense was a step behind in the second half, though, and it’s not the first time that has happened this year.

Nebraska had several chances to put this game to rest and send its loyal fans on a hunt for air conditioning but instead left it to chance, all the way down to the final drive. Give a lot of credit to the Husker defense, who was put in undesirable opportunities time after time and still held its own. NU is 5-1 as a bye week arrives. How about that?