Nebraska Is Tied 14-14 With Iowa At Half

Nebraska started the game getting a big break when Lee was hit while throwing and what looked like a fumble returned for a touchdown by Iowa was ruled an incomplete pass.

7-0 Nebraska

Nebraska forces three and out on Iowa’s first offensive possession. Iowa punter Colten Rastetter fumbled the snap, which was recovered by Mohamed Barry at the Iowa 15. Three plays later, Lee hit Stanley Morgan, who made a beautiful, one-handed catch to score the 14-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Iowa’s Ihmir Smith-Marsette fielded the kick too close to the sideline and then stepped out of bounds at the one. Instead of a setback, Iowa went on a 15-play, 99 yard drive that consumed 7:18 and was finished off by Akrum Wadley as he rushed 20 yards on a third and eight.

Nebraska’s offense got into field goal range on their next drive, but tried a fake on fourth down instead of going for the field goal. The fake failed miserably, as Luke McNitt was tackled five yards into the backfield.

14-7 Nebraska

Nebraska’s next score came on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lee to Morgan. The catch was enough for Morgan to set a new single season receiving record, bypassing Johnny Rodger’s record of 942 set in 1972.

14-14

Iowa’s next drive was stalled by the Husker defense early, but then extended when Nebraska’s Tony Butler ran into punter Rastetter, the five yard penalty for running into the kicker enough for an Iowa first down. Nebraska had a shot at a turnover when Wadley fumbled, but the ball took a fortunate Iowegian bounce. The result was a four yard touchdown pass from Nate Stanley to Nebraska native Noah Fant. The drive lasted 11 plays in which Iowa gained 75 yards, and took 5:53.

Nebraska called no timeouts on the Iowa drive, leaving only 25 seconds in the half. It appears the Huskers want to get the season over as quickly as possible.

Mick Stoltenberg was injured and left the game in the first half, a pretty damaging blow to the Nebraska defense.

Nebraska had 173 total yards at half, while Iowa had 185. The Hawkeyes averaged 5.5 yard per rush with 105 yards rushing on 19 carries. Nebraska has 126 yards passing with 12.6 yards per completion, on 10-for-16 passing by Lee.