Huskers Fall at Minnesota, 24-6
No. 25 Nebraska was held to a season-low 213 yards, while Minnesota’s Darius Taylor rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota’s 24-6 victory over Nebraska Friday night.
The Huskers (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) got only a pair of Kyle Cunanan field goals, as their two-game win streak was snapped. Dylan Raiola completed 16-of-24 passes for 172 yards but was sacked nine times and NU managed just 36 yards rushing.
Minnesota (4-2, 3-1 Big Ten) was efficient offensively, as the Gophers rushed for 186 yards while Drake Lindsey completed 16-of-20 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score.
Nebraska struck first, as the Huskers marched 70 yards on 12 plays to set up Cunanan’s 33-yard field goal on the final play of the first quarter. Raiola found Luke Lindenmeyer on a 26-yard completion to get the Huskers to near midfield. NU continued to march, as a Gopher pass interference call and a 10-yard catch from Nyziah Hunter got the Huskers to the red zone. A four-yard run by Emmett Johnson on first down put the Huskers at the 10-yard line, but the drive stalled, forcing a field goal.
Johnson totaled nearly 100 all-purpose yards, as he rushed for 63 yards on 14 carries while catching five passes for 37 yards.
Minnesota came right back, needing just four plays to go 90 yards to take a 7-3 lead. The Gophers had 90 of their 154 first-half yards on the drive, highlighted by a 71-yard run by Taylor to the Husker 1-yard line before Lindsey’s sneak capped the scoring drive.
Nebraska trimmed the Gopher lead to 7-6 midway through the second quarter after Cunanan’s second field goal of the day, this one from 30 yards. A career-long 43-yard reception from Quinn Clark and an 11-yard rush from Johnson gave the Huskers first and 10 at the Minnesota 11, but the Gopher defense stiffened, and NU had to settle for a field goal.
Minnesota extended its lead to 14-6 following a 14-play, 98-yard march that took nearly nine minutes off the clock. The Huskers had a chance to get the Gophers off the field, as Minnesota went for it on fourth-and-three from the NU 34. Lindsey’s pass was incomplete, but a defensive holding call kept the drive alive. Two plays later, Lindsey found Lemeke Brockington for the 20-yard touchdown pass.
The Gophers stretched the lead to 21-6 after a Taylor 1-yard run capped a six-play, 62-yard drive. A costly Husker defensive penalty kept Minnesota’s drive alive before Lindsey found Jalen Smith on a 35-yard catch and run to set up the score. Minnesota extended the margin to 24-6 on a 30-yard field goal from Brady Denaburg with 5:14 left for the final score.
The Huskers will return to action next Saturday, as Nebraska host Northwestern at Memorial Stadium. The kickoff time and network will be determined following Saturday’s games.