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Thorson, Luckenbaugh lead Northwestern over Nebraska in OT
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Rolling along with a 10-point lead, Nebraska had its first victory under coach Scott Frost and the end of the longest losing streak in its proud history in sight.
Northwestern yanked it all away. And now, the Cornhuskers are off to their worst start ever.
Clayton Thorson threw for a career-high 455 yards and three touchdowns, and Drew Luckenbaugh kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime to give Northwestern a 34-31 victory over the winless Cornhuskers on Saturday afternoon.
Nebraska (0-6, 0-4 Big Ten) blew a 10-point lead in the final 5:41 in regulation and fell to 0-6 for the first time. The Cornhuskers also extended the longest losing streak in their storied history to 10 games. It's not the start Frost envisioned when he decided to take over at his alma mater after orchestrating a drastic turnaround in two seasons coaching Central Florida.
''This is wearing on me, but mostly I just feel bad for them, especially the seniors,'' he said.
Flynn Nagel set career highs with 220 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Luckenbaugh made the first two field goals of his career in the fourth quarter and overtime after missing a 42-yarder in the third. And the Wildcats (3-3, 3-1) won for the first time at home after an 0-3 start at Ryan Field.
''That's the most fun football game I've ever been a part of,'' Nagel said.
Things weren't looking good for them trailing 31-21 with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter. But Luckenbaugh kicked a field goal and Northwestern drove 99 yards after getting pinned at the 1 with 2:02 left.
The Wildcats were aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty against Carlos Davis that moved the ball from the 1 to the 16, and Thorson finished the drive with a 5-yard TD to JJ Jefferson with 12 seconds left in regulation.
Nebraska got the first shot in overtime after Northwestern deferred. Frost decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the 16 rather than kick a field goal in part because Barret Pickering missed one earlier in the game. A low snap out of the shotgun on what quarterback Adrian Martinez said was a running play did in the Cornhuskers. He scooped up the loose ball around the 30, heaved it to the end zone from the 37 and got intercepted by JR Pace .
Northwestern moved six yards before Luckenbaugh nailed a 37-yarder on fourth down to give the Wildcats their second straight victory and set off a wild celebration.
''Great character, absolutely terrific character,'' coach Pat Fitzgerald said. ''That's who they are. That's who we recruit. I thought the talk on the boundary the whole game was excellent. But after we got the field goal to cut it to a one-score game, the guys (said), `We're winning this football game. We're winning the game.' ... To get it done in overtime I just think shows character.''
Nebraska's Devine Ozigbo ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Martinez threw for 251 yards and a TD.
JD Spielman caught eight passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. But Nebraska remained winless since a victory at Purdue last Oct. 28.
''It's frustrating,'' linebacker Luke Gifford said. ''That's for sure. At this point, the rah, rah stuff - that's got to go. I think we have passed that point.''
THE TAKEAWAY
Nebraska: This one has to sting for the Cornhuskers, who thought they were on the verge of breaking through prior to this game. They were in control, only to let the lead slip away down the stretch.
Northwestern: The Wildcats showed resolve by rallying late. But they continue to struggle in the run game since leading rusher Jeremy Larkin was forced to stop playing because of a spinal issue. They finished with 32 yards rushing - compared to 231 for Nebraska - after being held to a combined 36 over the previous two games.
QUOTABLE
''I was just thinking about this, we've been progressing so much over the weeks, we're just missing that one thing, we've marked off every box. We just haven't got a win and it's the craziest thing.'' - Ozigbo on Nebraska's streak.
''Everything felt pretty calm. I was with my holder and my snapper. ... They're talking to me because they'd been in this before.'' - Luckenbaugh on getting ready to kick the winner.
UP NEXT
Nebraska: Hosts Minnesota on Oct. 20.
Northwestern: Visits Rutgers on Oct. 20.
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Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 24 | 30 |
Rushing | 15 | 4 |
Passing | 9 | 21 |
Penalty | 0 | 5 |
3rd Down Conv | 7-16 | 8-18 |
4th Down Conv | 0-1 | 2-2 |
Total Net Yards | 469 | 474 |
Total Plays | 82 | 88 |
Avg Gain | 5.7 | 5.4 |
Net Yards Rushing | 231 | 32 |
Rush Attempts | 47 | 23 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.9 | 1.4 |
Yards Passing | 251 | 455 |
Comp. - Att. | 25-35 | 41-65 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.8 | 6.8 |
Penalties - Yards | 9-89 | 1-5 |
Touchdowns | 4 | 4 |
Rushing TDs | 3 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 3 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 3-1 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 2 |
Punts - Avg | 5-45.8 | 5-39.4 |
Return Yards | 90 | 20 |
Punts - Returns | 1-19 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 4-57 | 1-20 |
Int. - Returns | 2-14 | 2-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. Martinez
2 QB
|
A. Martinez | 25/35 | 251 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Ozigbo
22 RB
|
D. Ozigbo | 22 | 159 | 2 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Martinez
2 QB
|
A. Martinez | 13 | 37 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Washington
28 RB
|
M. Washington | 9 | 32 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Spielman
10 WR
|
J. Spielman | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Spielman
10 WR
|
J. Spielman | 0 | 8 | 76 | 1 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Williams
19 WR
|
M. Williams | 0 | 3 | 41 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Stoll
86 TE
|
J. Stoll | 0 | 3 | 40 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ozigbo
22 RB
|
D. Ozigbo | 0 | 4 | 33 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Morgan Jr.
8 WR
|
S. Morgan Jr. | 0 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Washington
28 RB
|
M. Washington | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Warner
81 WR
|
K. Warner | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Reimers
83 WR
|
B. Reimers | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Woodyard
88 WR
|
J. Woodyard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
B. Stille
95 DL
|
B. Stille | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Gifford
12 LB
|
L. Gifford | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Reed
25 S
|
A. Reed | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Neal
14 S
|
T. Neal | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Pickering
32 K
|
B. Pickering | 1/2 | 34 | 2/3 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
I. Armstrong
98 P
|
I. Armstrong | 5 | 45.8 | 2 | 57 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Washington
28 RB
|
M. Washington | 2 | 19.5 | 27 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Mazour
37 RB
|
W. Mazour | 1 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Wilbon
21 RB
|
M. Wilbon | 1 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Spielman 10 WR
|
J. Spielman | 1 | 19.0 | 19 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
C. Thorson
18 QB
|
C. Thorson | 41/64 | 455 | 3 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Moten IV
20 RB
|
J. Moten IV | 7 | 23 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Vault
4 WR
|
S. Vault | 12 | 16 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Thorson
18 QB
|
C. Thorson | 4 | -7 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
F. Nagel
2 WR
|
F. Nagel | 0 | 12 | 220 | 2 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Skowronek
88 WR
|
B. Skowronek | 0 | 6 | 73 | 0 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jefferson
12 WR
|
J. Jefferson | 0 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Lees
19 WR
|
R. Lees | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Green
84 TE
|
C. Green | 0 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Chiaokhiao-Bowman
81 WR
|
R. Chiaokhiao-Bowman | 0 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Moten IV
20 RB
|
J. Moten IV | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hanaoka
1 RB
|
C. Hanaoka | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Holman
16 WR
|
B. Holman | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. McGowan
8 WR
|
K. McGowan | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Fessler
5 WR
|
C. Fessler | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Vault
4 WR
|
S. Vault | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Williams
3 DB
|
T. Williams | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McGee
41 S
|
J. McGee | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Pace
13 DB
|
J. Pace | 0-0 | 0.0 | 2 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
D. Luckenbaugh
38 K
|
D. Luckenbaugh | 2/3 | 37 | 4/4 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
C. Kuhbander
14 K
|
C. Kuhbander | 0/1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Collins
49 P
|
J. Collins | 5 | 39.4 | 1 | 46 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. McGowan
8 WR
|
K. McGowan | 1 | 20.0 | 20 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Lees
19 WR
|
R. Lees | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) 38-D.Luckenbaugh kicks 65 yards from NW 35 to NEB End Zone. touchback. |
Penalty | 1 & 10 - NEB 25 (15:00 - 1st) Penalty on NEB 67-J.Foster False start 5 yards enforced at NEB 25. No Play. |
+5 YD | 1 & 15 - NEB 20 (15:00 - 1st) 2-A.Martinez complete to 81-K.Warner. 81-K.Warner to NEB 25 for 5 yards. |
+33 YD | 2 & 10 - NEB 25 (15:00 - 1st) 22-D.Ozigbo to NW 42 for 33 yards. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - NWEST 42 (14:38 - 1st) 22-D.Ozigbo to NW 42 for no gain. |
+42 YD | 2 & 10 - NWEST 42 (14:10 - 1st) 2-A.Martinez complete to 10-J.Spielman. 10-J.Spielman runs 42 yards for a touchdown. |
PAT Good | (13:39 - 1st) 32-B.Pickering extra point is good. |
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (13:32 - 1st) 35-C.Lightbourn kicks 30 yards from NEB 35 out of bounds at the NW 35. |
+19 YD | 1 & 10 - NWEST 35 (13:32 - 1st) 18-C.Thorson complete to 2-F.Nagel. 2-F.Nagel to NEB 46 for 19 yards. Penalty on NEB 25-A.Reed Pass interference declined. |
-1 YD | 1 & 10 - NEB 46 (13:32 - 1st) 4-S.Vault to NEB 47 for -1 yard. |
+1 YD | 2 & 11 - NEB 47 (13:15 - 1st) 4-S.Vault to NEB 46 for 1 yard. |
No Gain | 3 & 10 - NEB 46 (12:50 - 1st) 18-C.Thorson incomplete. Intended for 19-R.Lees. |
Punt | 4 & 10 - NEB 46 (12:25 - 1st) 49-J.Collins punts 46 yards from NEB 46 to NEB End Zone. touchback. |