In the 600th game played at Memorial Stadium, Nebraska improved to 5-1 with a 14-7 win over Rutgers.
“that was a close win,” Head Coach Matt Rhule said. “In many ways that was a tough day. Credit to Rutgers, credit to Greg Schiano. They did a ton of things against us, but we didn’t turn the ball over but once. We won the turnover battle, I thought it was as great as defensive performance as I’ve been around.”
After being forced to punt on their first drive, the Huskers would score at the 3:09 mark with a 1 yard rush from Dante Dowdell, capping off a 7 play, 75 yard drive.
After trading punts and a missed Rutgers field goal, the teams would trade interceptions in the second quarter. Flip Dixon would intercept Dylan Raiola at the Rutgers 34, returning it for 23 yards and starting a drive in Husker territiory.
Four plays later, the Huskers would get the ball back, as Marques Buford would intercept Athan Kaliakmanis at Nebraska’s 24 yard line.
The Huskers would get the next score six plays later, with a Janiran Bonner 11 yard rushing touchdown at the 1:53 mark.
The second half was reminiscent of Big Ten west football, with eight of the next ten drives ending in punts before Rutgers would score late in the fourth on a passing touchdown from Kaliakmanis to Ben Black.
Rutgers outgained the Huskers, 264-261. Rutgers had 78 rushing yards to 186 passing yards, while the Huskers split their yardage with 97 rushing yards to 164 passing. Kaliakmanis went 15-37 with 186 yards, alongside a touchdown and two interceptions, while Raiola went 13-27 for 134 yards and an interception. Both quarterbacks were sacked twice.
Isaac Gifford led the way with eight tackles (four solo) and 1.5 TFL, while James Williams had two sacks.
Nebraska has a bye week, before traveling to Bloomington on October 19 to take on 6-0 Indiana. The No. 23 Hoosiers defeated Northwestern 41-24 today.
