A strong defensive effort and rushing touchdowns by Dante Dowdell and Janiran Bonner carried Nebraska to a 14-7 Big Ten victory over visiting Rutgers on Saturday.
The Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1) recorded four sacks and limited the Scarlet Knights to 78 yards on the ground. Nebraska also intercepted Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis twice. Kaliakmanis completed 15-of-37 passes for 186 yards.
The Scarlet Knights (4-1, 1-1) were 2-of-14 on third down, and 2-of-6 on fourth down.
Nebraska led 14-0 until Kaliakmanis tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben Black with 4:08 to play. The TD capped a nine-play, 50-yard drive.
Rutgers’ final possession began on its own 11-yard line with 2:17 to play. The Scarlet Knights moved the ball to the Nebraska 26-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 1:17 remaining.
Rutgers blocked two punts in the game, the second of which was blocked by Jamier Wright-Collins midway through the third quarter, recovered by Shaquan Loyal and returned 14 yards to the Nebraska 2-yard line. The Scarlet Knights failed to cash in, however, as Nebraska forced a turnover on downs.
It was the third punt and fifth kick Nebraska opponents have blocked this season.
The Cornhuskers, who scored on both of their red zone opportunities, led 7-0 after one quarter and 14-0 at halftime.
Nebraska took a 7-0 lead when Dowdell scored on a fourth-and-goal play from the Rutgers’ 1-yard line and John Hohl added the point-after kick with 3:09 left in the first quarter. It was the first time Rutgers allowed a touchdown in the first quarter this season.
Bonner helped Nebraska double its lead when he scored on an 11-yard run with 1:48 remaining in the first half.
Dowdell led Nebraska’s rushing attack with 57 yards on 14 carries. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola was 13-of-27 for 134 yards. He was intercepted once.
Nebraska has held five of its six opponents to 10 points or less. The Cornhuskers are the only FBS team that hasn’t allowed a rushing TD this season.
–Field Level Media
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