Nebraska’s third-down touchdown avoids tough decision

Play of the game: Quarterback Dylan Raiola’s touchdown pass to Jahmal Banks in the third quarter, which gave the Huskers a 7-3 lead. Nebraska was facing third-and-goal, and if Raiola hadn’t found Banks in the back of the end zone, there’s no telling what would have happened, considering NU’s field goal woes in the game. That play gave the Huskers the lead and they never looked back from there.

Turning point: Nebraska scoring a touchdown on its first possession of the second half. Having failed to score any points during the first half and trailing 3-0 at the time, had Nebraska faltered again it might’ve had few opportunities to get back into the game. NU didn’t have to score a touchdown on that drive — but doing so ensured that the Huskers had momentum on their side.

Quotable: Raiola on Nebraska’s mood at halftime.

“Going 0-0 in the first half, everybody was probably like, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s happening? Here we go again.’”

Game ball: Jacory Barney Jr. The freshman wide receiver’s touchdown run didn’t come until late in the game, but he spent much of the day as Nebraska’s best offensive weapon. The slot wideout led NU in rushing with 66 yards on the ground and also hauled in two catches for 28 yards that left him just shy of a 100-yard day.

Game ball: Nebraska’s offensive and defensive lines. It wasn’t always perfect, but Nebraska won the game in part because it won the battle in the trenches. The Husker offensive line gave Raiola plenty of time to throw, allowing just one sack, while Nebraska sacked Purdue’s Hudson Card five times and held the Boilermakers to just 50 total rushing yards.

Hat tip: To cornerback Ceyair Wright, who started in place of the injured Tommi Hill and battled a brief injury scare of his own. Wright tied for the team lead with five tackles and broke up two passes during the win.

Questionable: One week after a shaky officiating performance impacted Nebraska’s loss to Illinois, the Huskers again found themselves in the middle of a poorly officiated game.

One of the first blown calls came when tight end Thomas Fidone narrowly avoided making contact over the middle, perhaps brushing a defender, but was flagged for offensive pass interference to wipe a touchdown off the board.

On another key player later in the first half, Banks appeared to contact a defender’s shoulder but was instead whistled for a block in the back.

The most egregious miscue came when Purdue quarterback Hudson Card released a pass several yards beyond the line of scrimmage but was not ultimately flagged for it. The official standing directly on the line of scrimmage did not throw a flag, instead needing the side judge 25 yards behind the play to spot the foul.

After a lengthy conversation between the officials, though, they deemed that Card had not in fact passed the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass — but that Purdue had committed offensive pass interference instead. 

Tone-setter: Nebraska punting from within Purdue territory on the game’s opening possession. The Huskers’ inability to score points from promising drives continued from there on out.

6.4: Yards per carry averaged by Purdue over its first three games.

1.6: Yards per carry averaged by the Boilermakers against Nebraska.

24: Combined penalties between the two teams for a total of 259 yards of penalty yardage.