This was one of the weirdest games I’ve watched as a Husker fan. Talk about mind blowing emotions. After the game, I tried to go through it in my mind, so I sat down and wrote a summary of how the game transpired and my thoughts as the game went. Below are the results.
The Good
Michigan State wins the toss, and Nebraska kicks off to the Spartans. MSU starts their first drive from their own 25-yard line. Blackshirt LB Javin Wright jumps over a block to sack MSU QB Aiden Chiles on third down forcing a three and out. The Blackshirts have a different look, and they will repeat the feat six more times on the day. Michigan State punts.
Fast Out of the Gate
Jacory Barney Jr. returns the punt 14 yards and Nebraska starts their first drive at the MSU 48-yard line. During the 10-play drive Emmett Johnson has a 15-yard run and Dylan Raiola scrambles twice for 13-yards. His second carry moves the ball to the 3-yard line. The next play Emmett Johnson scores on a 3-yard reverse. Cunanan adds the extra point, and Nebraska takes a 7-0 lead at the 9:09 mark of the first quarter. Husker fans give a sigh of relief, thankful for no redzone craziness.
Special Teams Look Special
Nebraska kicks off to MSU, and they start their second possession from their own 25-yard line. The Blackshirts hold the Spartans to 8 yards, and they are forced to punt. After an illegal substitution MSU attempts to punt from their own 27-yard line. Nebraska’s Jamir Conn blocks the punt and teammate Carter Nelson scoops up the ball at the 2-yard line to score. Cunanan again adds the extra point and NU leads 14-0. Huskers fans, me included, think it’s a good day to be a Husker.
UCLA Deja Vue
Nebraska kicks off and there is no return. MSU starts their third possession from their own 25-yard line with 7:00 remaining in the first quarter. At this point MSU goes on a 17-play drive that burns almost ten minutes off the clock. During the drive the Spartans convert a 4th and 1 and Nebraska commits two pass interference penalties that give MSU first downs. Elijah Jeudy sacks Chiles for a 10-yards loss which sends Chiles to the sideline. The backup QB Alessio Milivojevic comes into the game and throws a 2-yard TD pass. MSU adds the extra point at the 12:52 mark of the second quarter. Nebraska leads 14-7. Huskers fans are uneasy seeing their Blackshirts unable to get off the field.
Sleepwalking
With the wind to their back Michigan State kicks the ball through the endzone and Nebraska starts their second possession of the game after being off the field for more than 30 minutes in real time. The Husker Offense is out of sync and after an 11-yard run by Mekhi Nelson and a pair of runs by Raiola for 5 yards, Nebraska is forced to punt. NU’s Archie Wilson punts into the wind and the ball only travels 26 yards. Husker fans realize banana balls don’t do well in the wind.
Barney on a Mission
MSU starts their fourth possession from their own 30-yard line. After being penalized for a blindside block the Spartans are unable to pick up a first down and are forced to punt from their own 30-yards line. Jacory Barney catches the ball at his own 18-yard line and returns the ball 57-yards to the MSU 26-yard line. We all think to ourselves, he’s gonna break one.
Worst Possession of the Season
Nebraska starts their third possession. The Spartans bring the heat and sack Raiola to set up a second and 17. On second down Raiola hangs on to the ball too long and is sacked a second time, setting up a third and 22. On third down Gunnar Gottula is called for Illegal procedure causing a third and 27. Running the play again, center Justin Evans has a bad snap that Raiola has to scramble for and is sacked, setting up fourth and 42. Raiola is clearly frustrated. Starting the drive from MSU’s 26 Nebraska now finds itself punting from its own 42-yard line. Again, Wilson punts into the wind and again the wind knocks the ball down for a net gain of only 18-yards. Husker fans are asking, doesn’t Archie have a torpedo ball?
On the Spot
MSU starts their fifth possession from their own 40-yard line. On third and 9 with the wind at his back, MSU QB Chiles over throws his running back and DeShon Singleton intercepts the ball. Singleton goes down as he catches the ball, and Nebraska takes possession at the MSU 45-yard line. Huskers fans all anticipate points. Don’t turnovers mean points?
Going Backwards
NU starts their fourth possession in Sparty’s territory. Nebraska picks up 17 yards on six plays before going for it on fourth and 4. Raiola scrambles backwards and is sacked. MSU takes over.
Lightning Strikes Twice
MSU starts their sixth possession at their own 38-yard line. On third and 7 Chiles passes, this time he underthrows his receiver and DeShon Singleton again picks him off. Singleton returns the ball to the MSU 44-yard line. DC John Butler asks, why can’t we score.
Wasted Opportunities
NU starts their fifth possession with 1:13 remaining in the first half. Emmett Johnson carries the ball for 6 yards on first down. On second down Justin Evans gets called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, moving Nebraska back to the fifty-yard line and creating a third and 16. Emmett Johnson picks up 8 yards on a swing pass, but with it being fourth and 8, Nebraska punts to MSU with 5 seconds left in the first half. Nebraska had possession of the ball three times in MSU territory and comes away with zero points. Husker fans are disheartened.
Regroup, Reset, Re-something
Taking possession of the ball at their own 12-yard line, MSU runs out the clock, and the two teams go in for halftime with NU leading 14-7. Not the score Husker fans envisioned after blocking the punt.
Second Half Gifts
With the wind to their back in the third quarter MSU kicks off to NU, and it goes through the endzone. NU starts their first possession of the second half and sixth of the game at their own 25-yard line. Raiola hits Hunter for 14 yards on first down. Emmett Johnson runs the ball twice and picks up seven yards to create third and 3. Raiola tries to throw a ball under handed to Johnson and the ball is batted down. Sitting up in punt formation NU attempts a fake punt on fourth down, but Haarberg is stopped a half yard short and NU turns the ball over on downs, giving MSU the ball at NU’s 48-yard line. Tackling Haarberg looked too easy.
If you give it, they’ll take it
MSU starts their first possession of second half with 13:08 on the clock. The Blackshirts only allow 4 yards on three plays, but Chiles scrambles for 10 yards and a first down on fourth and 6. After a 2-yard loss on a run, Chiles scrambles for 14 yards in two plays for another first down. Again, the Blackshirts only allow 6 yards on three plays, but on fourth and 4 from the 16-yard line with 6:08 on the clock Chiles scrambles untouched for a touchdown. With the extra point the score is tied 14-14. Husker fans have seen this movie before.
Thank You Very Much
MSU kicks off to Nebraska and NU starts their second possession of the second half at their own 25. On the first play Raiola throws 13 yards down the field and the ball is intercepted. MSU starts their second possession of the second half at NU’s 38-yard line. Moving the ball to the16 yard line in four plays to set up a fourth and 1, MSU runs the ball to the 13-yard line for the first down. Chiles completes a pass to the 3-yard line and on second and 1 runs straight up the middle untouched for a touchdown. With the extra point MSU leads 21-14. Huskers fans are even more disheartened seeing Sparty score when getting the short field. They ask, why can’t our Huskers do that.
Back on Track
After two quick Michigan State scores, Nebraska finds themselves trailing and starts their third possession of the second half at their own 25-yard line with 2:37 left in the third. At this point, in NU’s last six possessions they have run 23 plays for 19 yards. After two incomplete passes it’s third and 10. Raiola rolls right and hits Jacory Barney Jr. for a 45-yard gain. It ignites the crowd and with the ball at the MSU 30-yard line Emmet Johnson picks up 7-yards on a run. The next play he scores on a 23-yard run. With Cunanan’s extra point Nebraska ties the score 21-21.
Oh, that Sneaky Wind
NU kicks the ball high and short and the wind holds the ball up, MSU bobbles the short kickoff, and NU recovers at the MSU 28-yard line. On first down Raiola is sacked, setting up second and 16. On second down a pass to Hunter sets up a third and 4. Time expires in the third quarter and Nebraska has the wind at their back in the fourth. Raiola throws a swing pass to Johnson who takes the ball to the 18-yard line where he is horse collar tackled, earning Nebraska a half the distance to the goal penalty. NU has a first down at the 7 ½ yard line. Two incomplete passes and a shovel pass to Haarberg goes nowhere. On fourth down NU kicks a 27-yard FG to make the score 24-21. Huskers fans are happy with the points but realize there is still a redzone problem.
Another Missed Opportunity
After the kickoff MSU starts their third possession at their own 25-yard line. After three plays they pick up 6 yards, MSU decides to punt on fourth down. Punting from their own 31-yard line, Jacory Barney catches the ball at the twenty and returns the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. However, the TD is negated by a block in the back by Carter Nelson. After the penalty NU starts their drive at their own 20-yard line. After picking up two first downs, Raiola is sacked for the fifth time in the game. After a couple of plays and a penalty, Nebraska punts from their own 45. Archie Wilson punts, places the ball inside the 10-yard line. Husker fans think, yes, that’s our guy.
Defense Rules
MSU starts their fourth drive at their own 9-yard line. Losing three yards in three plays, the Blackshirts get another three and out. MSU is forced to punt from their own endzone. With a booming punt, Barney loses 3 yards on the return.
Quick Strike
NU starts their sixth drive of the second half at their own 41-yard line. On the first play Raiola throws a screen pass to Nyziah Hunter that goes for 59 yards and a TD. Hunter loses a shoe on the way and never misses a step. With 6:45 to play, NU had 44 yards of offense in the first half and 206 yards in the second. Cunanan kicks the extra point and NU leads 31-21. Huskers fans are smiling, but they shake their heads in disbelief.
Blackshirts Set the Tone
With the wind, Nebraska kicks the ball through the endzone and MSU starts at their own 25-yard line. On the first play the Blackshirts sack Chiles for a 12-yard loss. On second down Chiles scrambles for 14-yards. On third down Chiles is pressured and throws incomplete. MSU HC Jonathon Smith decides to go for it on fourth and 8 from their own 27-yards line. Chiles is sacked by Cam Lenhardt for an 11-yard loss. Husker fans like what they see.
Let’s Try Running Emmett
NU takes over the ball at the MSU 17-yard line with 5:17 to play. Emmett Johnson picks up 6 yards on his first carry since scoring on a 23-yard run. NU ran 13 passing plays before going back to Johnson. Johnson scores from 11 yards out on his next carry. With the extra point NU leads 38-21. Husker fans question Holgorsen’s logic. He said he wouldn’t call plays that didn’t work, but the run has been working, why 13 passing plays in a row?
One More Score
NU kicks off and once again MSU starts their possession on their own 25-yard line. The MSU backup QB Milivojevic comes in and leads the Spartans on a 75-yard scoring drive in seven plays. However, MSU fails to complete a two-point conversion. NU leads 38-27. Husker players, coaches, and fans don’t like Sparty scoring.
Victory Formation
Still trailing, MSU attempts an onside kick which is recovered by NU at the MSU 49-yard line. NU runs out the remaining 2:00 of the clock from a victory formation. Nebraska wins 38-27 and improves their record to 4-1.
Husker fans are happy and celebrate the win. But they are still nervous. While improvement is evident, they know the Huskers still have work to do before Maryland.
GO BIG RED!!
Stats gathered from ESPN – Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.
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