Nebraska’s offense didn’t get to West Lafayette, Indiana, until the second half … metaphorically speaking. Actually, the Huskers had 210 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes.
So maybe that metaphor is inappropriate, worthy of a flag.
But they were 0-for-6 on third-down conversions, and scored no points.
Matt Rhule summed it up: “Anything that could go wrong went wrong in the first half,” he said.
The thing is, Purdue didn’t have any points, either. Nebraska’s defense limited the Boilermakers to 89 total yards, setting the stage for a 28-10 Husker victory.
In short, Nebraska rebounded from last week’s 31-24 overtime loss to Illinois.
And as with the Colorado game, also a 28-10 victory, the final score probably wasn’t reflective of the Huskers’ dominance. The score could’ve been more lopsided. Nebraska missed three field goals, two of them blocked. The blocks weren’t on kicker John Hohl, Rhule said, but rather a result of bad snaps.
Also, on the first play of the second quarter, Rahmir Johnson caught what would’ve been a 22-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Raiola, nullified by a pass interference penalty on Thomas Fidone II, a call disputed by Rhule, who appeared to be right based on a replay.
During the fourth quarter, Rhule’s frustration with some of the officiating led to a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, after he threw his headset to the ground following a holding call. It was only the third such penalty during his career, Rhule said.
In any case, the penalties left Nebraska second-and-29 at its 29-yard line. Raiola passed to Emmett Johnson for 27 yards, a play extended by 15 yards because of a facemask penalty.
Two plays later, Jacory Barney Jr. ran 25 yards for a touchdown to make the score 21-3.
Raiola finished 16-of-26 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown to Jahmal Banks, who finished with five catches for 82 yards. “We just stay the course and keep grinding,” Raiola said.
Banks said the Huskers have a “remarkable amount of resilience.”
Raiola gave a shoutout to the offensive line, which “protected well,” he said. He was sacked once.
Redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula started at left tackle in place of Turner Corcoran, who is sidelined by a significant hamstring issue. In fall camp, Corcoran stepped in for Teddy Prochazka, sidelined for the season. Nothing was said about the third-string tackle during the game, which is good, according to Rhule. That meant Gottula, like the rest of the line, was getting the job done.
Dante Dowdell scored Nebraska’s second touchdown from 1 yard out, and linebacker John Bullock scored the fourth, returning an interception 29 yards with 5:38 remaining.
Bullock, who had four tackles including one for loss, was the first to meet with the media post-game. “We’re still a good team, we are,” he said. “We just gotta play like it.”
The defense played like it when it mattered most, again, limiting Purdue to 224 yards for the game. The Huskers sacked Hudson Card five times.
Defensive back Ceyair Wright, who stepped in for an injured Tommi Hill, and linebacker Mikai Gbayor led the defense with five tackles each. James Williams had two sacks, M.J. Sherman 1.5. Purdue rushed for a net of 50 yards, 85 if sacks are discounted.
Running the ball was considered a Purdue strength.
“We’re just a growing team,” said Rhule, who considered the unsportsmanlike penalty an indication of passionate support for his team, which was penalized 11 times for 94 yards.
Purdue was penalized 13 times for 165 yards.
Nebraska, which finished with 418 yards of offense, will be tested next week when undefeated Rutgers comes to Lincoln. Though 4-1, the Huskers have shown there’s still plenty of room for growth.
And the scoring offense, as well as the kicking game, need to show up from the start.
