Johnson Emmett Johnson 1 2023 Nebraska vs Northwestern football — Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Stukenholtz: A Big Ten West Win Is a Beautiful Thing

You may have to squint to see it, but it’s another good-looking result for Husker football

Author:
Cole Stukenholtz
Updated:
Oct 21, 2023 9:30 PM EDT
Original:
Oct 21, 2023

In this story:

The easy way to describe it would be to call it ugly. A win only a Husker fan could love.

Don’t fall into that trap. Look beyond the external features, like the box score or the lowlight plays, and see the deeper beauty.

The box score does matter, don’t get me wrong. The stats that total up, good or bad, represent what did happen. There were two first quarter interceptions from Heinrich Haarberg, plus three fumbles. And NU’s defense, while quite strong yet again, did allow a few big plays.

Low scoring, lots of punts, just six total plays of 20 yards or more. This game saw 13 punts, with eight downed inside the 20 and two inside the 5-yard line. Look up Big Ten West football and this game fits the definition to a T.

Some might call it ugly.

But Nebraska’s 17-9 victory over Northwestern had a great personality.

Some features were easy to spot, like Isaac Gifford’s phenomenal pursuit and tackle on a 3rd quarter screen pass that could’ve gone a long ways. Northwestern set it up well, with not one but two offensive linemen out in position to pancake Gifford out of the way. But the Husker rover slipped through and made the play, one of his team-leading seven tackles.

Then there’s the polar bear, Nash Hutmacher. The defensive tackle has been wrecking interior lines all season, and he totaled 2.5 sacks among his seven total tackles against the Wildcats.

Emmett Johnson, the running back buried on the depth chart to begin this season, started the game and finished with career highs of 12 carries and 73 rushing yards.

And of course, Malachi Coleman, the Lincoln East true freshman wideout who basically sealed the game with his 44-yard TD catch in the 4th quarter, is another obvious Husker success story as his development continues.

What’s not so easy to spot, or easy to forget about, is the resiliency of this team. Head coach Matt Rhule pointed out that Nebraska led Northwestern by 11 points out in Ireland last season. This was a chance to right that wrong, in a way. They could do it better this time around. And they did.

Two unseemly turnovers that set the Wildcats up in NU territory in the first quarter? Not pretty. You know what was? The Blackshirts forcing negative 21 net yards on those two quick-change situations.

Even if the bouncing back is a small step in the right direction, it all matters. Anthony Grant, relegated to a backup role on Saturday, carried it six times. No fumbles. Gotta start somewhere.

Malcolm Hartzog had a rare pass play loss, getting beat for a 66-yard deep ball down the sideline. How did he finish that same drive? By making the solo stop in space on 3rd and goal to force a field goal.

While Haarberg’s early INTs and dropped shotgun snap may stick out in your mind, he continued to battle. After the second pick, he completed four of his next five throws. He is improving in the option game and scored his fourth rushing TD in five starts. And even though his completion percentage dipped under 50%, on the biggest offensive play of the game – an option play action pass that reminded me of 2003 Jammal Lord – Haarberg nailed the deep ball to Coleman.

Like I said, beautiful.

The Illinois game may have been when Rhule told us we’d see who he is as a coach and who this team is, but this was another such contest. Next Saturday’s Purdue matchup is, too. That's reality for a program this starved for winning, this down and dormant. Gotta show consistency on a weekly basis before you earn the benefit of the doubt.

You and I can look ahead in forecasting the remaining six games, but the team cannot. That's why Rhule's got the right approach: watch any of NU's social media videos and you'll see a ton of 8½ x 11 sheets of paper taped up on the walls with a simple message, 1-0. Go 1-0 that week.

No matter the score or the style, a win is a win.

Beautiful.

More coverage & commentary: HuskerMax game page

Northwestern interception 2023 vs Nebraska football USATSI_21700979 — Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Turner intercepts a pass that was thrown behind Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone in the first quarter

Heinrich Haarberg and Emmett Johnson 1Q 2023 Nebraska vs Northwestern football USATSI_21700990 — Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg hands the ball off to Emmett Johnson during the first quarter.

Northwestern 2023 - haarberg runs — Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg runs the ball during the second quarter.

Anthony Tyus run Northwestern vs Nebraska football 2023 — Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern running back Anthony Tyus III is brought down by Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (2) and Javin Wright (33) during the second quarter.

Northwestern 2023 - Matt Rhule talks to an official — Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule talks with a referee during the first quarter.

Haarberg Heinrich Haarberg 1 2023 Nebraska vs Northwestern football — Kenny Larabee, KLLIN

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg runs three yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (10) and tight end Luke Lindenmeyer celebrate after a touchdown by Haarberg late in the second quarter.

Nebraska's Emmett Johnson breaks free for a big gain in the first quarter.

Northwestern 2023 — Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg runs the ball out of the end zone after starting one the 1-yard line against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium.