WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — It might’ve been for the best that Nebraska’s matchup against Purdue was not broadcast to a national television audience.
A sloppy, penalty-filled game that took 38 in-game minutes to even produce any scoring eventually broke Nebraska’s way during a strong second half.
The Huskers overcame a stiff test to defeat Purdue 28-10 on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium, providing a tough but much-needed bounce-back win following NU’s first loss of the season last week.
Missed opportunities were the story of the game for a Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) team which took six consecutive drives past the Purdue 40-yard line with nothing to show for it in the first half.
Even on a drive where Nebraska got its most explosive play of the game, a 34-yard run from Jacory Barney Jr., the Huskers faced a fourth-down dilemma that continued throughout the game. With starting kicker Tristan Alvano (groin) ruled out for the contest, Nebraska instead turned to John Hohl at kicker.
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So when the Huskers stalled out at the Purdue 34-yard line, head coach Matt Rhule had three possible choices.
Would he trot Hohl out for a 50-yard field goal with a low chance of conversion? Would he let his offense take on a fourth-and-long with similarly low odds? Or would he simply punt it away and play the field position game?
Rhule opted to punt, and so began a frustrating first half where the Huskers were thwarted at every possible turn. Each drive was the same as the last, with Nebraska moving the ball well only to falter once it neared the red zone for a scoring opportunity.
On a fourth-and-1 which might have been just outside Hohl’s range, Nebraska brought backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg into the game as its short-yardage specialist. Haarberg never got his chance as a false start backed up the Huskers instead, setting up a 42-yard try from Hohl which sailed wide left.
The field goal miscues didn’t end there. Nebraska lined up for a 44-yard kick later in the half in which punter Brian Buschini had no time to handle a misplaced snap before the Purdue (1-3, 0-1) rush was there to block the kick.
Even when Nebraska changed its personnel at long snapper, the mistakes continued. Needing to cash in prior to halftime, Hohl’s 32-yard try was again blocked by the Purdue defense after the snap hit the grass rather than Buschini’s hands.
Nebraska also punted three times from the Purdue side of the field in the first half, including on a drive where a passing touchdown from quarterback Dylan Raiola to running back Rahmir Johnson was wiped off the board. Tight end Thomas Fidone II was whistled for offensive pass interference on a play where he appeared to avoid contact with the Purdue defender rather than initiating it.
Nebraska’s inability to reach the end zone or put a ball through the uprights overshadowed a strong start for the Husker defense. Apart from a long Purdue drive which ended in a missed field goal, the Blackshirts were stout and resolute early as they forced four punts, including a trio of three-and-outs.
The NU defense faltered in its first opportunity after the break, though, allowing a 13-play Purdue scoring drive that took over eight minutes. Purdue kicker Spencer Porath, a freshman who hadn’t made a field goal yet this season, connected on his 45-yard try to break the deadlock and put the Boilermakers up 3-0.
Needing to respond, Nebraska finally did so with its first drive of the second half. Raiola marched the Huskers 70 yards down the field, eventually tossing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jahmal Banks in a crowded end zone.
Having failed to convert its previous seven third-down opportunities during the game, the play also marked NU’s first third-down conversion.
Nebraska then put together three consecutive touchdown drives as its ground game finally kicked into gear. Emmett Johnson carried the ball multiple times on the drive before Dante Dowdell converted a fourth-and-goal on a 1-yard touchdown run which gave NU a 14-3 advantage.
Then with NU looking to run down the clock and keep the ball from Purdue, Jacory took a 25-yard gain for a touchdown to seal Nebraska’s win.
It may not have been a pretty win, nor a convincing one, but it was one that Nebraska desperately needed to get its season back on track. Next up for the Huskers is a home date against an undefeated Rutgers team next Saturday.
