This Nebraska team has a way of taking fans breath away. Whether it’s the dazzling Anthony Colandrea scrambling down field for 55 yards or seeing an opponent’s wide receiver streak 65 yards untouched for a touchdown, you’ll hear a simultaneous hush from the multitudes, followed by a deep sigh of relief and accompanied by a loud cheer or grown.
“The way we play, it’s maybe not all the time the coolest thing, the visual, but we’re going to try to be physical,” Matt Rhule said after the game.
Despite what Rhule thinks, for the second week in a row his Cornhuskers won the beauty pageant. And once again, they did so while winning very few of the categories. Having better talent seems to have pushed them over the top the last two weeks. However, the Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State pageants are coming up, and I don’t have to tell you, they all three possess some real stunners.
If you thought Maryland WR Chris Durr’s 7 receptions for 149 yards, 21.3 yards per catch and 1 touchdown hurt your eyes, wait until you get a load of the Buckeye’s Jeremiah Smith.
Saturday the nimble footed Turtles came into Memorial Stadium and performed a dance routine in the first half that took 41 plays, netted 305 yards, 23 points, and lasted for over 12 minutes. If it hadn’t been for QB Malik Washinton executing a couple of his UCLA moves (interceptions), this one would have had very little spectacular and a whole lot of ugly.
So much for the thought of Nebraska coming out early punching Locksley’s crew on the chin and watching them lay down. Even though the Huskers took a 28-23 lead into the locker room at halftime there was no letdown from the hard-shell speedsters in the first half.
The four Nebraska bright spots in the first half, blocking a Maryland punt giving them the ball at the 19-yard line resulting in a Mekhi Nelson touchdown.
A 10 play 80-yard drive highlighted by Kwazi Gilmer’s 39-yard reception and that was capped with a 5-yard Mekhi Nelson touchdown.
Safety DeWayne McDougle’s 81-yard interception return for a touchdown, the longest in Nebraska football history, seemed to spark the Huskers and flip the momentum.
And finally, a Husker 80 play drive that resulted in a 1-yard Luke Lindenmeyer reception for a touchdown with 5 seconds left before the half. The cherry on top, Nebraska did it with no timeouts. It was that drive that seemed to pull OC Dana Holgorsen’s playcalling out of the dumpster.
At halftime the Husker’s decided their dance routine was over, they ripped off their tutu’s and suited up for the most aggressive portion of the pageant, the interview. Yes, that portion of the pageant where you are judged on composure, intelligence and authenticity.
This time they showed up, led by Anthony Colandrea and Owen Chambliss.
Chambliss led a Husker defense in the second half that only allowed Maryland 31 plays totaling 62 yards and 0 points, while possessing the ball a little over 10 minutes. That is a big difference from the 305-yards and 23 points of the first half. The Terps also went 1-of-14 on third downs.
Nebraska evened the offensive stats in the second half running 36 plays for 246 yards and 20 points while possessing the ball for close to 17 minutes. It was the Anthony Colandrea show with him picking up102 of his 108 total rushing yards. For the second week in a row he was Nebraska’s leading rusher. That isn’t good. I guarantee you he will not finish the season as the starter if that occurs more than twice more on the season.
Holgorsen stated before the game that there was a tremendous connection between QB Anthony Colandrea and WR Kwazi Gilmer and that showed up big in the second half. Gilmer had 6 of his 11 receptions and 86 of his 147 yards and both touchdowns in the second half teaming up with Colandrea.
Of note, after scoring on a 1-yard run in the second half, RB Vince Genatone has 3 touchdowns in 6 touches this season. Not bad for an in-state walk-on.
The ugliest part of this game, 28 total penalties for 247 yards. Nebraska won that category in this one with 16 yellow flags for 132 back-up yards.
“I thought it was ridiculous,” Rhule said. “I thought it was poorly handled by the officials and poorly done by us. You've never heard me say that before, but I was frustrated today. There were things I’ve never had called before.”
When asked to explain his comment, Rhule said, “I’m just waiting for the fine. I’m going to stop, respectively. I’ve probably said too much.”
On the season the Huskers are averaging 14 penalties a game for a little over 125 yards per game, which is a number that contributes to a losing combination in the future.
The Nebraska kickers are also part of the Spectacular- Ugly Showcase. Punter Archie Wilson has yet to allow any return yards on the season after punting 5 times for 218 total yards with a 41.6-yard average against the Terps. He also placed the ball inside the 20-yard line twice and boomed his longest kick as a Husker against Maryland, 53 yards.
Kyle Cunanan hasn’t fared as well missing his first extra point of the season and now 3-of-6 on field goals. However, in his defense all three misses have been over 50 yards.
The win makes the Huskers 5-0 and 2-0 in Big Ten play for their best start since 2016. They’ve also scored at least 30-points in their first five games for the first time since 2014.
Nebraska faces their greatest challenge next Saturday in a 6-0 defending national champion Indiana, a team who has won 22 straight games. The Huskers will need to play much more consistently and eliminate mistakes and penalties if they wish to have a chance against Cignetti’s Hoosiers.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photos courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home - Falls City Journal - Falls City, NE
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