Nebraska Husker Football
MADISON, WISC. – Even overtime couldn’t prevent the Huskers from falling flat. No Nebraska fans were “Jumping Around” at the end, as another overtime contest in Madison ended in favor of the Badgers, 24-17.
With bowl eligibility on the line for both teams, the mid-November contest aimed pivotal for first year head coaches Matt Rhule and Luke Fickell.
Nebraska did the opposite of what Husker fans had grown accustomed to from the start of the Rhule era – especially in the first quarter. The Huskers exploded offensively for fourteen first quarter points – their most not only in the quarter on the season, but one point more than they had scored in their previous ten games combined (13). Not only was the point differential noticeable, but so was the quarterback play.
The Huskers elected to go with Preston “Chubba” Purdy to open the contest – giving the vote of confidence to the second-year transfer over Jeff Sims – as incumbent Heinrich Haarberg was out with an injury suffered against Maryland. The change was the right choice, as Purdy showed his wheels early with a 55 yard scramble on third down, going the distance for the opening touchdown of the contest.
The Blackshirts were on their game early as well, with no points allowed in the opening fifteen plays for Wisconsin. The Badgers were beat up, but starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai was back in action hoping to get Wisconsin rolling. Early, it was the Nebraska Big Red that shined the brightest only giving up a yard per play in the first quarter.
Nebraska’s offense again rolled into another touchdown on their second drive, as poor tackling from Wisconsin’s secondary left freshman receiver Jaylen Lloyd open and cruising on a deep post rolling in for six points. Up 14-0, the Huskers were feeling good and looking even better.
The second quarter began a complete one-hundred and eighty degree turn that would put knots into any Husker stomach. The Badgers offense slowly churned out yardage, marching down the field into Husker territory. Mordecai would connect on a 28 yard touchdown pass, fooling the Blackshirt defense off play-action with a fullback wheel route that left Acker alone for a score.
The Badgers would ground-and-pound their way down the field again, again churning out yards to hit a field goal going down 14-10.
The Huskers finally got off their offensive slide, hitting big pass plays behind the right arm of Purdy before halftime. As Chubba led the team down the field, the Nebraska offense would stall near the Wisconsin thirty. Despite the late push for a score, the Huskers couldn’t score on a missed field goal from Tristan Alvano, keeping the lead at 14-10 in favor of the visiting Huskers.
Despite the tough play for both sides, neither offense gained much footing in the third quarter. Nebraska’s defense leaked slightly having been forced on the field for multiple long drives by the Badgers, as Braelon Allen’s two yard touchdown run put the Badgers up for the first time on the evening 17-14.
The Husker offense began to show its anemic self once again, as Purdy continually faced third and longs due to backwards plays and false start penalties. The Badger offense would routinely enter into Husker territory, but the Blackshirts would step up on three consecutive drives preventing Badger scores.
As Nebraska struggled, Wisconsin gained momentum. With their backs against the wall, the Huskers would finally respond late in the contest. As the Blackshirts held off Wisconsin, Purdy and his offense garnered one final push. Moving into the Badger territory with a strong run by Emmett Johnson and first down tosses by Purdy.
As the clock continued to run down, Purdy led Nebraska nearing the Wisconsin red zone. With less than a minute to play in regulation, the Huskers elected to play safe and kick a 30 yard Alvano field goal with seven seconds remains. As the kick sailed in, the game would head into overtime tied at seventeen.
In the opening possession of overtime, the back of Nebraska finally broke defensively as Wisconsin would convert a late fourth down inside the Husker red zone, as Braelon Allen put in his second touchdown on the day with a push from his offensive line.
As the Huskers trailed 24-17, Nebraska could not recover offensively as a four-and-out ended the contest with a Purdy interception.
Nebraska drops to 5-6 on the season, and hosts Senior Day against Iowa on Black Friday for an 11 AM kickoff.
