Nebraska vs. Rutgers Game Recap: Three Things From The Huskers 27-17 Victory

In the third quarter, they were ready to fire the HC and tell the Captain at Quarterback to sit a spell. In the end, it’s a win after a tumultuous week in North Stadium for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Behind a stellar defensive performance, an 100 yard result from Devine Ozigbo and a massive ownage of Time of Possession in the second half, the Huskers came from behind with timely plays to defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 27-17 Saturday afternoon.

The Huskers, 2-2 on the season but 1-0 in the Big Ten West, played an incomplete game in the wake of trouble. Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst was fired on Thursday, and the entire Nebraska AD was put on notice, especially Mike Riley and the Football team.

Behind Ozigbo’s 24 carries for 101 yards on the day, the Huskers kept the ball for over 22 minutes in the second half, helping out a defense that was giving up nickle and dime plays to Rutgers and starting QB Kyle Bolin.

What are the three things to take from this game?

Tanner Lee almost played himself out of a job... again.

It’s a feel good story about the New Orleans Junior who transferred to Nebraska, you know. That is until the Oregon game, where from then on Lee has been a walking timebomb. Lee’s Saturday started off well on Nebraska’s opening drive, going three for three. After that, however, Lee regressed badly. His two interceptions came while the Huskers had the ball inside their own 25 yard line, including another pick 6. That led to 10 of Rutgers 17 points on the day, in which the only other time the Knights scored was on the opening drive of the game.

The boobirds came out for Lee big time after the second interception, which he calmly responded two drives later with a 17 play, 97 yard drive to take the lead for good. While we don’t condone booing college football players and such, one has to wonder what the reaction of him trying to rectify after another bad performance. Especially when it’s a short week.

Demoray Pierson-El & The Defense Made The Difference

It took a pretty solid effort by the Blackshirts to keep the game for the Huskers, especially when Lee seemed to keep giving Rutgers chances close. The defense gave up only 119 yards after that first drive, including four three and outs plus two interceptions in the last 20 minutes of the game.

As far as helping the offense out with Special Teams, Demornay Pierson-El gave his team the best chance to win with a ideal punt return.

It’s A Short Week To A House Of Horrors For Mike Riley

It’s time to get ready for Friday Night Football this week, as the Huskers will go on the road to Champaign on Friday to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini. It’s another team that, even thought the Huskers are struggling, they should win. They should have won in 2015 as well, but we all know how that played out.