Nebraska vs. Maryland: Final takes and grades
COLLEGE PARK, Maryland – Here are the final takes and grades following Nebraska’s 34-31 win at Maryland to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Up next, the Huskers will hit the road again, this time to Minnesota on a short week.
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What I saw on Saturday
****What a gutsy win for Nebraska. Over the last several years, we’ve seen the Huskers not win in moments like this. Credit Matt Rhule and his football team for never giving up, even down 31-24 after the pick-six from Dylan Raiola.
***I think Nebraska really found something on the ground with Emmett Johnson. They saw that Maryland had two young defensive ends, and they took advantage of that by running right at them. If they can get this type of balance from the offense all season, look out.
***Once again, special teams played a significant role in this game. NU dominated in this phase. Kyle Cunanan was money, Kenneth Williams had an 85-yard kickoff return, and Caleb Benning had a 25-yard return. Rhule said after the game that Williams is now on scholarship.
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***For the sixth game in a row, Nebraska lost the opening coin toss. Unlike last week, Maryland deferred to the second half.
***Nebraska will hit the road on a short week now to Minnesota. Rhule commended his travel team for such a great trip to Maryland this week.
The final grade out
| Grade | HOL take | |
| Rushing offense | A | Nebraska had 203 sack-adjusted rush yards, as Emmett Johnson ran for 176 yards on 21 carries. It was the most balance we’ve seen the offense all season. |
| Passing offense | C- | It was a tale of two games for Dylan Raiola, as he finished 20-of-29 for 260 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Raiola hung in there and overcame a second half pick six and answered by leading the Huskers down the field on a game-winning drive. |
| Rushing defense | C | Maryland had one of their better games all season on the ground with 136 sack-adjusted rush yards, including four runs of 10+ yards. |
| Passing defense | C- | Nebraska gave up seven pass plays of 15+ yards and had just one sack on the day. Malik Washington was 27-of-37 for 249 yards. He hurt the Huskers through the air as much as any QB all year. |
| Special teams | A- | Nebraska got an 85-yard kickoff return from Kenneth Williams, and Caleb Benning also had a 25-yard kickoff return on a squib. Kyle Cunanan hit both of his field goal tries. Punter Archie Wilson, though, had a 20-yard punt he shanked out of bounds. |
Sean Callahan can be reached at [email protected] and is heard daily at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall, and each week, he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.
