Instant takes: Nebraska 17, Northwestern 9
Nebraska football outlasts Northwestern 17-9 behind a great defensive effort to overcome offensive struggles.
Here are three instant takes from the Husker victory.
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Haarberg has rough game in first official QB1 game
Quarterback Heinrich Haarberg was officially named QB1 by Head Coach Matt Rhule this week. QB Jeff Sims is 100 percent healthy and the Huskers are sticking with Haarberg.
The redshirt sophomore and Nebraska did not start the game well. He threw an interception on the very first play of the game. It was a misread intended for Thomas Fidone, but was too far behind him and Devin Turner picked it off.
The trend continued on the third drive. Fidone popped up another pass and Rod Heard II intercepted it and took it back 10 yards. On the first play of the drive, wide receiver Billy Kemp IV was hit hard after a catch and fumbled the ball. Fidone recovered it downfield.
Both teams were sloppy with the ball. In the first three plays, there was one turnover by the Huskers and two near turnovers by Northwestern.
Nebraska and Haarberg struggled throughout the entire game with turnovers. On their first drive of the third, Josh Fleeks fumbled the exchange with Haarberg for a loss of six yards. Three players later, the QB fumbled the snap and recovered it but had a three-yard loss.
Even if they aren’t losing the turnovers, they suck the life and momentum out of the offense. Nebraska had five turnovers with two interceptions and three fumbles against Northwestern. Haarberg was involved in four.
He missed several wide-open receivers, including Alex Bullock in the third quarter. Bullock was undershot and despite his efforts to way out, it was too short. Nebraska missed out on a 15-yard gain, at least.
The highlight of the game was a 44-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Malachi Coleman.
Haarberg’s greatest strength is his ability to run. He finished with 72 rushing yards and had a 20-yard and 16-yard scramble.
He went 8-for-17 for 85 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Against Northwestern, Nebraska’s offense could not find any consistent momentum.
Huskers suffer another big loss at wide receiver
Wide receiver Billy Kemp IV went down in the second quarter, clutching his left knee. He was helped off the field but put some weight on his left leg.
Left guard Ethan Piper went down on the same play. He was helped off the field by two other linemen and didn’t put any weight on his right knee/leg. In the fourth quarter, center Ben Scott went down as well. Piper and Scott would be two huge losses to this team.
Kemp had a big brace on his left knee on the sideline and didn’t return for the rest of the game. The senior’s injury is unknown. But this could be a huge loss for the Huskers.
NU is in danger of losing its third receiver from its top three to start the season. They lost Isaiah Garcia-Castenada to a torn ACL in the first game vs. Minnesota. Marcus Washington suffered the same injury against Illinois.
The group was quickly dwindling and now could be on the cust of another huge loss.
Against Northwestern, former walk-on Alex Bullock and freshman Malachi Coleman started. True freshmen Jalen Lloyd and Jaidyn Doss also saw playing time. If Kemp is out, the Huskers will turn to Bullock, walk-on Ty Hahn and several true freshmen.
The young group has shown some promise, but the QB has also struggled to get the ball to him. Malachi Coleman had his first career touchdown and second career catch. It was a 44-yard bomb from Haarberg to go up 17-6.
Defense lights out
Blackshirts held Northwestern to zero yards in the first quarter. They had three receiving yards on one catch and -3 rushing yards. The Huskers forced back-to-back three-and-outs to start the game to set the tone.
In the second quarter, Northwestern had two consecutive huge runs by Anthony Tyus III. He broke away for a 15-yard gain down the sideline and then crashed up the middle for a 39-yard run. The Huskers held them to a 37-yard field goal. Northwestern took a 6-3 lead with 5:48 left in the first half.
The Blackshirts dominated third down. Northwestern was 1-of-6 on third down in the first half. The Wildcats finished the first half with nine receiving yards and 86 rushing yards. Of those rushing yards, 54 were from Tyus’ two big runs.
Nebraska’s defense kept the Huskers in the game. But with the offense struggling, they will need to find a way to win the game.
Hill had an interception on the final play of the first half on a Hail Mary play.
NU had three sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Players all over the defense made huge tackles.
The Blackshirts shut out Northwestern in the third quarter. In the fourth, Nebraska came back from a 66-yard pass to hold the Wildcats to a 25-yard field goal.
The Huskers allowed 81 rushing yards and 176 receiving yards. Northwestern had a big 39-yard
Nebraska’s had a chance to win it and they did. Jimari Butler and Ty Robinson sacked the quarterback for a loss of 16 yards on third-and-16 to force a punt and win the game.
Special teams making impact but NU needs more
A 36-yard punt return by Tommi Hill set up Nebraska’s first points of the game. A 15-yard catch by Alex Bullock and a 10-yard rush from Emmett Johnson helped set up a 47-yard field goal.
After starting the season 1-for-4 on field goals, freshman Tristan Alvano drilled the field goal while kicking into the wind. NU tied it up 3-3.
Hill started off the Nebraska’s first touchdown drive against Northwestern with a 19-yard punt return.
Punter Brian Buschini had a few good punts. He drilled a 55-yard into the wind at the end of the third quarter.
He averaged 41 yards per punt with four inside the 20 and one 50-plus yarder. At the end of the fourth quarter, Buschini put both of his last two punts inside the 20-yard line.
Nebraska’s junior punter stepped up at the end of the game.
They need more from their special teams in general. With the offense faltering, the other two phases need to make game-winning players.
