Instant Takes: Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
Nebraska (5-1, 2-1) takes down Maryland (4-2, 1-2) 34-31 at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md. in the Huskers’ first true road game. The Huskers start 5-1 in back-to-back seasons.
The Huskers did not win pretty, but got it done. Quarterback Dylan Raiola went 20-of-29 for 260 yards for four touchdowns but threw three interceptions. Emmett Johnson was a one-man wrecking machine. He had a career-high 176 rushing yards on 21 attempts. Nyziah Hunter scored two touchdowns on five receptions for 125 yards. Javin Wright led the defense with a career-high 12 tackles.
Maryland posted 249 passing yards, a season-high for an opponent against the Huskers. True freshman QB Malik Washington went 27-for-37 for 249 passing yards and one touchdown.
Here are four takeaways from a massive Husker victory:
Huskers finally a fourth-quarter team
Nebraska fans have prayed for days like this. From the 2017-2024 seasons, the Huskers went 11-38 in games decided by eight points or less. They had endless opportunities to win in the fourth quarter and came up short in basically every way possible. But Matt Rhule’s squad pulled through for the second game in a row.
The Huskers scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and held Maryland to no points to claim the victory.
Raiola and his offense put together a seven-play, 81-yard drive to take the lead 34-31 with 1:08 left. It wasn’t just Raiola. Luke Lindenmeyer (23 yards), Nyziah Hunter (33 yards), Heinrich Haarberg (13 yards) and Dane Key (3-yard TD) made massive plays.
The defense tightened up and kept Maryland out of field-goal range. DeShon Singleton had the game-winning pass-breakup on 4th-and-4 at the Nebraska 49-yard line.
Nebraska is trending towards a fourth-quarter team. They scored 17 points in the fourth quarter against Michigan State to win 38-27.
Nebraska gives up 17 points on turnovers
The Huskers gave up 17 points off three turnovers. Raiola threw three interceptions, including a 67-yard pick-six to Dontay Joyner. The sophomore had two interceptions this season entering SECU Stadium.
Maryland leads the country with 12 interceptions and is second nationally with three defensive touchdowns. Joyner earned his second INT and is one of eight Terps with an interception this season.
The Huskers went up 10-0. But Maryland scored two touchdowns in under three minutes to get back momentum. Ray slipped past the Nebraska defense for a 28-yard rushing touchdown. Raiola threw a pick to Messiah Delhomme on NU’s new offensive play.
Raiola redeemed himself in the fourth quarter, but those three interceptions are unacceptable. It is very hard to win games and lose the turnover battle. The Huskers have lots to learn, but still won.
Protecting Raiola against a top-25 defense
After giving up 12 sacks in their two previous games, Nebraska did a much better job of protecting Raiola.
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The Terps have two havoc-wrecking true freshman defensive ends, Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis. Before Saturday’s game, Maryland ranked fifth with 3.80 sacks per game and 23rd nationally with seven tackles per loss per game.
Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen made it a point for Raiola to get the ball out quicker. The approach gave Maryland fewer opportunities to pressure Raiola. The entire offense was set up for better success thanks to the game plan.
Maryland came up with one sack. Mathis recorded the Terps’ only sack on the last play of the first half for a loss of 10 yards. The Huskers didn’t allow a quarterback hurry, but also didn’t land a QB hurry either.
Nebraska held a great pass-rushing team in check.
Special teams difference
Special teams have made a huge difference for the Huskers in their last few games.
Walk-on Kenneth Williams ripped off an 85-yard kickoff return after Maryland went up 14-10 in the second quarter. He had another kick return for 23 yards. Isaiah Mozee had a 29-yard kick return, and Caleb Benning added a 25-yard return.
The Terps capitalized on a Raiola interception. But Nebraska turned around to cash in on Williams’ huge return. Raiola found Lindenmeyer nearly out of bounds in the end zone. Raiola and Lindenmeyer kept the play alive after it seemingly imploded. Lindenmeyer’s second career TD came with his feet barely in bounds to go up 17-14 with 7:27 left in the first half.
Kyle Cunanan connected for a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter to take a 10-0 lead. He went 2-of-2 on field goals, making a 27-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Maryland committed two costly 15-yard penalties on one drive in the second quarter. A three-and-out helped give Nebraska the ball on its 38-yard line. The Huskers had three plays of over 10 yards, ending with a 12-yard receiving TD to Hunter. NU took a 24-14 lead.
Unfortunately for the Huskers, Archie Wilson shanked his first punt to give Maryland short yardage in the third quarter. His defense eventually forced a punt. Wilson only punted once.
Special teams can be a game and season changer. The Huskers are making massive plays in the phase to flip games.
