A strong defensive effort and rushing touchdowns by Dante Dowdell and Janiran Bonner carried Nebraska to a 14-7 Big Ten victory over Rutgers on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
The Cornhuskers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) 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 threw an 11-yard touchdown to Ben Black with 4:08 to play. The TD capped a nine-play, 50-yard drive.
Rutgers’ final possession began at 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 left.
Rutgers blocked two punts in the game, the second of which was intercepted 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 capitalize, however, as Nebraska forced a turnover on downs.
It was the third and fifth punts Nebraska’s opponents have blocked this season.
The Cornhuskers, who scored on both 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 a punt return 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 double Nebraska’s lead when he scored on an 11-yard run with 1:48 left 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 caught once.
Nebraska has held five of its six opponents to 10 points or less. The Cornhuskers are the only FBS team that has not allowed a rushing TD this season.
–Field Level Media