‘We weren’t going to let it slip’: Huskers start fast, hold off Purdue for second win of season | Football

“We just preached through the whole week to finish,” said junior defensive back Taylor-Britt, who finished with six tackles and a pair of breakups, including a high-flying deflection against Bell late in the game.

Nebraska could hardly have started the game any faster.

The Blackshirts forced a punt after Purdue managed one first down, and wide receiver Levi Falck ripped through and blocked it, setting up Nebraska first-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Senior Dedrick Mills, playing for the first time since Nov. 14 against Penn State due to a right knee injury, punched in a scoring run on NU’s first play from scrimmage.

A three-and-out and a 27-yard punt return by Taylor-Britt, compounded by a 15-yard Purdue penalty, set up the Huskers’ second drive at the Purdue 17. This time, it took three plays, capped by a 13-yard touchdown run on third-and-7 from Martinez.

Four plays, 18 offensive yards, 14 points thanks almost equally to the offense, defense and special teams.

Of course, it didn’t all go smoothly from there. NU gave up a big return of its own, committed a penalty of its own and had one of its own punts blocked all by halftime.

Even so, Martinez was sharp in his second consecutive start, completing 13 of his first 16 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown — a career first for walk-on wide receiver Wyatt Liewer in the second quarter to cap a pretty, six-play, 56-yard drive that went as the Huskers’ longest in the first half — and the visitors scored on each of their first five drives in building a 27-13 halftime lead.