Nebraska had 25 first downs to Illinois’ 19, 426 yards to 376 and the longer time of possession. It scored 13 points. The official box score shows where the rest went.
Kicking
John Hohl made his first start at place-kicker after taking the job from Kyle Cunanan this week. He made his only extra point, then missed from 45 yards in the first quarter with the game scoreless and from 54 yards with 11 seconds left in the first half and the score tied 7-7. Moczulski made his one try for Illinois, a 21-yarder that pushed the lead to 24-13 with 7:51 left.
The failed two
After Jacory Barney Jr.’s 51-yard touchdown with 10:44 to play, Nebraska went for two down 21-12. Colandrea’s pass failed, leaving it a two-score game instead of a seven-point one.
Penalties
Nebraska was flagged 11 times for 82 yards. Illinois had six for 55. Several of the Husker flags wiped out gains, including a holding call that erased a 21-yard Colandrea run to the Illinois 10 on the first-quarter drive that ended in the 45-yard miss.
Red zone and fourth down
- Red zone: Nebraska 1-for-1, Illinois 4-for-4. The Illini turned every trip inside the 20 into points, three of them touchdowns.
- Third down: Nebraska 6 of 14, Illinois 8 of 15.
- Fourth down: Nebraska 1 of 4, Illinois 1 of 2, and Illinois’ one was the 4th-and-12 fake field goal that set up the go-ahead touchdown.
- Sacks: two apiece. Cameron Lenhardt and Jordan Ochoa got Houser. Illinois got Colandrea twice, including a nine-yarder that forced a 4th-and-21 punt before Dixon’s first score.
Rutgers is next
At 5-4, Nebraska needs one more win for bowl eligibility with three games left: at Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 14 (11:30 a.m. CT, BTN), Ohio State at home on Nov. 21 (time TBA) and at Iowa on Friday, Nov. 27 (11 a.m., CBS). The offense moved the ball against a team that came in winning three straight. Kicking and clean downs will decide whether that turns into points in Piscataway.
Featured image: Photo: Thundrplaya. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WisconsinatNebraska2012.jpg.
