After last week’s waxing of Akron, the Huskers did the same to Houston Christian in their last non-conference game of the season, defeating the Huskies 59-7. Nebraska’s large lead in the first half allowed for lots of players to get in today. Click/Tap HERE for the photo gallery.
“It was good to get a lot of guys real reps in the second half, coming out of half,” Huskers head coach Matt Rhule said. “A lot of times, like last week, we put the ones in to start the second half and this week I thought ‘What does T.J need?’ He needs to be sitting in the locker room, all those guys in the twos, they need to be sitting in the locker room, like ‘hey I’m going in, have that time to think about it and then they had to go out and perform.'”
The Blackshirts kept HCU at bay in the first three drives, only allowing three yards in those drives. After having to settle for a chip shot field goal from Kyle Cunanan in the opening drive, Dylan Raiola would find Jacory Barney Jr. for his first receiving touchodwn in his career, and connected with Dane Key for his second long pass of the day, taking the reception 39 yards to the house to extend Nebraska’s early lead to 17-0. Emmett Johnson would tack on a rushing touchdown early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 24-0.
On Houston Christian’s fourth offensive drive, the Huskies were starting to get a drive going, but on 2nd and 3 on their own 41, Riley Van Poppel got a strip sack on Huskies Quarterback Jake Weir, which Williams Nwaneri would take to the house for the Husker’s first non-safety defensive score of the season.
“I feel like we were just doing what we were coached to do, we were emphasizing getting off the ball this week, playing fast,” Nwaneri said. “I feel like we accomplished that.”
Johnson would add another rushing score to head into the locker room 38-0. In the lone half that the first teamers played, Nebraska had 319 yards of offense, while Houston Christian was held to 52.
The Huskies were able to get some more offenisve production in the second half, as they ended the game with 160 yards. They also would snap Nebraska’s bid at back to back shutouts when Xai’Shaun Edwards broke away for a 45 yard rush touchdown. But Nebraska’s second stringers would add to the score as well. Backup quarterback TJ Lateef guided the second string offense to an additional 21 points. Lateef would take the opening drive of the game himself for a 6 yard run, and Kwinten Ives would add a short touchdown rush a couple minutes after Houston Christian’s score. Lateef would connect with Cortez Mills for the only score of the fourth quarter, going 68 yards in the final minutes.
Raiola went 15-21 for 222 yards and two touchdowns in his short day. Lateef also had a nice day slinging the rock with his 5-5 performance with 126 yards and the touchdown to Mills. Dane Key had 104 yards on the receiving side of the ball in four catches. The Huskers had a total of 554 yards of total offense, while Houston Christian was held to 160, with 108 of them in the second half.
Nebraska opens up B1G play at home next week against #23 Michigan, who defeated Central Michigan 63-3 in interim head coach Biff Poggi’s debut. Kickoff is set for 2:30 on CBS, alongside KGFW and Hits 106 (105.9 FM).
