STEP-UP TIME
Nebraska’s defense stepped up and so did its offense. That’s how Coach Mike Riley’s Huskers rebounded from losses against Wisconsin and Ohio State to defeat Purdue 25-24 at West Lafayette in late October 2017—Riley’s last season at Nebraska.
First, the defense. Purdue led 24-19 with 3:44 remaining. With 1:29 remaining, after a first down, the Boilermakers were forced to punt.
With 1:22 remaining, Nebraska had first-and-10 at its 30-yard line. Eight plays later, the Huskers scored the game-winning touchdown, on a 13-yard pass from Tanner Lee to wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. with 14 seconds left. The reception was Morgan’s sixth of the game for 112 yards.
Lee completed seven-of-eight passes on the winning drive.
Tight end Tyler Hoppes caught five passes for 105 yards and the touchdown to put Nebraska in position to win, teaming with Lee on a 27-yard touchdown to cut the lead to five with 11:03 remaining.
Five other Huskers had at least one reception; three others had five or more, including J.D. Spielman, six for 70, and De’Mornay Pierson-El, five for 62.
Lee finished 42-of-50 for a career-high 431 yards and the two touchdowns, without an interception. It was the seventh 400-yard passing game in Husker history and the first since 2015, when Ryker Fyfe passed for 407 yards, also at Purdue, a 55-45 victory.
The 100-yard receiving game was Morgan’s fourth in 2017.
Freshman Jaylin Bradley was the Huskers’ leading rusher, with 42 yards on seven carries, all in the second half. Riley’s offensive philosophy was more pass- than run-oriented.
Nebraska managed a net of only eight yards on 15 carries in the first half.
Drew Brown kicked four field goals, in order: 44, 21, 37 and 25 yards. He was the only Husker to score during the first three quarters. At the end of the third quarter, Purdue led 17-12.
The 12-point, fourth-quarter comeback tied for the largest (in the fourth quarter) in Husker history. Riley’s first team in 2015 also came back from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit against Michigan State. The Huskers had done it three previous times.
Inside linebacker Chris Weber led the defense with a game-high 12 tackles, one for loss, and two pass breakups. Cornerback Lamar Jackson had eight tackles, all solo; safety Joshua Kalu had six.
Ben Stille and Khalil Davis combined on Nebraska’s only sack.
The defenders “fought from snap to whistle every single down. They just kept believing,” Husker defensive coordinator Bob Diaco was quoted in the Sunday Journal Star.
“There was not a moment where any defensive unit, player or coach was disheartened.”
Purdue, under first-year head coach Jeff Brohm, went into the game with a 3-4 record. The Boilermakers would finish 7-6, including 4-5 in Big Ten play.
Nebraska went to West Lafayette also 3-4, with losses at Oregon and against Northern Illinois that ended with Lee interceptions as the Huskers tried to drive for game-tying or winning touchdowns. The victory was Nebraska’s last in 2017. After a 31-24 overtime loss against Northwestern, the Husker defense gave up 54, 56 and 56 points in the final three games.
It didn’t step up down the stretch.
Mike Babcock
