ThotDoc's Brain Droppings on the Northwestern Game

Nebraska nudges Northwestern in another knockdown knee-knocker

On an Indian Summer afternoon in late October, the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrated the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium with a 17-9 edging of the Northwestern Wildcats. In a game that didn’t seem that close but was always in doubt, the Blackshirt defense was again the difference as they recorded 8 sacks and 13 tackles for loss and repeatedly stymied the Wildcat offense holding the visitors to just three field goals. The Huskers have held back-to-back conference opponents to single-digit points for the first time since November of 2010 and are above .500 (at 4-3) during the second half of the season for the first time since 2019. After an inauspicious 0-2 start, Nebraska has now won four out of five games for the first time since 2018.

Since October 20, 1923, 592 Husker games have been played in Memorial Stadium, with an overall record of 431-148-13. How many have you attended since 1923? Saturday also marked the 393rd consecutive sellout dating back to 1962. The Grey Lady still looks pretty good for a centenarian and will improve again after the south stadium is exploderated after the 2024 season.

Nebraska and Northwestern have consistently had close games ever since the Huskers joined the Big Ten with seven of the 13 meetings being decided by three or fewer points, and two more (including Saturday) being a one score difference. Even with a backup quarterback and an interim coach, the double-digit underdogs displayed a gritty performance and despite going down 11 points early in the 4th quarter, they still had opportunities to tie the game with 8:39 and 2:59 to play. Thank goodness for Tony White and his merry band of Blackshirt blitzers that kept the Wildcats out of the endzone even though they had first downs at Nebraska’s 13, 21 and 9-yard lines.

The game couldn’t have started much worse for the Nebraska offense as Heinrich Haarberg threw behind Thomas Fidone on the first play of the game and was picked off. Haarberg actually completed his first 3 passes, but two of them were to the Northwestern secondary. Despite beginning their first three drives in Nebraska territory (at the 44, 47 and 13-yard lines) Northwestern accumulated -16 yards of offense on 11 plays. Instead of finding themselves with at least a 14-point deficit, the Huskers trailed just 3-0. For the game, the Wildcats were 3 for 3 in the red zone for 3 points each time. Keeping Northwestern out of the endzone on those drives was what won it for Nebraska.

In the 4th quarter, each team had a big pass play. Nebraska’s was a 44-yard touchdown strike to Malachi Coleman and Northwestern’s was a 66-yard pass completion to Bryce Kirtz who was run down by Malcom Hartzog at the 9-yard line. Hartzog also made the tackle on 3rd and goal from the 7 for no gain to force another trey for the Wildcats. Northwestern actually ended up with more total yards on the afternoon, picking up 257 yards to Nebraska's 248, as the Huskers lost 8 yards with two kneel downs at the end. But Nebraska won the rushing yardage battle 163 to 81, thanks in large part to the 51 yards Northwestern lost in sack yardage. Bend, don’t break. Win ugly, but just win, baby.

Haarberg finished 8-of-17 passing for 85 yards and a touchdown to go with two interceptions. He also fumbled the ball twice, but at least fell on it. He added 72 yards on the ground on 16 carries. He could have fared somewhat better but was also the victim of several drops. In contrast to the badly thrown balls that were picked, the pass to Coleman was perhaps his best toss of the year and was also the longest scoring pass of the season. Apparently, that belly g option pass was suggested by Tom Osborne, who still knows a thing or two about offense. Once again, former starter Jeff Sims did not see the field and it appears that Rhule will stick with Haarberg as long as the Huskers are winning. One strange thought is that given the Huskers may pursue the portal for a QB in the off-season, is it possible that Rhule doesn’t play Sims unless absolutely necessary to allow him to redshirt and he could have two years of eligibility to play elsewhere? But given the hits Haarberg gets and delivers, surviving five more games without injury may be a tall task.

Emmett Johnson got the start and led all rushers with 73 yards on 12 carries and is looking better each week. The total yards and carries were both career highs for Johnson. Anthony Grant added 22 yards on 6 carries. Haarberg distributed his 8 completions to 6 different receivers, with Thomas Fidone leading the pack with three grabs even though he was targeted seven times. Malachi Coleman got his first career start and first career TD with the 44-yard reception and showed significant speed after his move on the defensive back opening a gap of about 10 yards. Alex Bullock had one catch for 15 yards but was missed on another when he was wide open 20 yards downfield. Billy Kemp (1 catch for -3 yards and a fumble) went down with an apparent knee injury on the same play the Huskers also lost lineman Ethan Piper. Piper’s injury looked a bit more serious, and the offense has now lost its four best receivers and top two running backs. I get the “next man step up” philosophy, but depth is starting to become an issue for an already anemic offense.

The Husker offense is averaging just 13.5 points against Big Ten opponents in four conference games. They totaled a paltry 56 plays in this game, but the offensive line had just one pre-snap penalty and did not yield a sack. In fact, Northwestern’s offensive line made Nebraska’s look like world-beaters. Kudos to redshirt freshman Justin Evans-Jenkins, who took over at left guard for Piper, then moved to center in the second half to replace Ben Scott, who left the game briefly with a lower leg injury. The Piper loss is big, but here’s hoping another freshman can step up and make a difference. Despite what happens this year, the young talent on the field on both sides of the ball will pay huge dividends in 2024.

As mentioned earlier, the defense limited Northwestern to 81 rushing yards on 39 carries but held the Wildcats to negative yards (-5) on 18 carries in the second half. The Huskers have held six of their seven opponents under 100 rushing yards this season. The 13 tackles for loss were the most for Nebraska this season and marked the most TFLs since NU also had 13 TFLs at Illinois during the 2019 season. Nebraska’s eight sacks against Northwestern tied its season high (also at Colorado). Four of its sacks of Brendan Sullivan came on the Wildcats' last two possessions. Northwestern has now yielded 30 sacks in 7 games.

The “Polar Bear”, defensive tackle Nash Hutmacher had a huge game with a career high 2.5 sacks, including 1.5 in the first half. He finished the game with a career-high seven tackles, bettering his previous high of 6 vs. Northern Illinois earlier this season. Freshmen Princewell Umanmielen also had a career high seven tackles, two of them for losses, including a sack. Isaac Gifford, had another seven-tackle game, including a spectacular one-armed takedown of Cam Porter on a third-and-10 screen pass when the Blackshirts had an all-out blitz. Matt Rhule said that play was set up for a score had Gifford not held Porter to a six-yard gain and forced a punt. It was Gifford’s fourth consecutive game with at least seven tackles. Cam Lenhardt (three tackles, including a tackle for loss) is returning to form after an injury and continues to apply pressure. Luke Reimer returned and added a sack to go along with six stops. And what about the play of James Williams, who as of Wednesday was on the scout team, and was pulled to perform his part in a 5-man rush scheme that Tony White put together for this game. Williams got a sack on the first defensive series and looks like a legitimate speed rusher for the Blackshirts.

On special teams, Tristan Alvano connected on a 47-yard field goal against the wind to open Nebraska’s scoring, marking the longest field goal of his Husker career. That has to boost the kicker’s confidence as he is now 4 for 8 on the year, making 3 of his last 4 treys. One of the biggest plays of the game was the booming 55-yard punt by Brian Buschini that flipped the field and backed Northwestern up to their 10-yard line. After a 3 and out with a penalty and sack, Nebraska got the ball at the Wildcat 44 leading to the Coleman touchdown one play later. Buschini averaged 41.0 on 7 punts, placing four inside the 20-yard line. The punt team allowed -1 yard on those 7 boots. Tommi Hill had a 36-yard kickoff return (and a pick on the last play of the 1st half) before leaving with an ankle sprain. Special teams seem to be helping more than hurting and could be the difference in games down the stretch.

The Huskers have not won three games in a row since Mike Riley was coach during the 2016 season. Next Saturday marks another opportunity as the 2-5 Purdue Boilermakers come to Lincoln off a bye week. Purdue edged Virginia Tech and spanked Illinois for their two victories, but also have losses to Fresno State and Syracuse. They are certainly beatable, but not if the Huskers start out in turnover mode like they did against Northwestern. The Husker offense is not likely to be very good this year, especially with the rash of injuries. But if they can be marginally serviceable without turnovers, the defense and special teams may be good enough to win the field position battle and put the offense in short field situations to score. It’s what we’ve got. It may be ugly, but just win, baby. Go Big Red!!