Courtesy Nebraska Athletics
Lots of people have nightmares at 1:40 a.m. Showing up naked for class. Falling off a building. Clowns jumping out from behind a door. But the difference Saturday night into Sunday morning was that the nightmare was reality for Husker fans, as former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola marched Oregon down the field for two scores, including a game-winning four-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson with 28 seconds to go as the Ducks came back to win, 17-14, with the final points going on the board at 20 minutes until 2 a.m., central time.
For three quarters, the Blackshirts had totally choked off the Oregon offense, as the Ducks (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) gained just 91 yards. Making his first career start, Brock Thomas sputtered to a 9-for-20 performance throwing the ball for just 54 yards, no touchdowns, one interception. The momentum of the game was creeping toward the Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-2) too: Anthony Colandrea had just run for a six-yard touchdown to push the lead to 14-6, and John Hohl’s kickoff was fumbled in the end zone, with Jordan Davison scratching out a 13-yard return. As the Husker players danced to the traditional playing of “Shout” by the Isley Brothers heading to the fourth quarter, Raiola, the two-year starter at Nebraska, the son of former Husker Dominic Raiola and a five-star quarterback whose time in Lincoln was seen as a disappointment, prepared to enter the game.
The Ducks marched down the field, 17 plays, chewing up over half the fourth quarter clock, before Oregon settled for a 37-yard field goal, cutting Nebraska’s lead to 14-9. The Huskers lost three yards on a three-and-out drive and punted back to the Ducks, giving them the ball back at their 18. Oregon again minced its way down the field, 20 plays, 82 yards, consuming over five minutes off the clock. The Ducks gained six first downs, the last on a fourth-and-1, which Davison churned out two yards to set up first and goal at the four. After Raiola’s first pass was bobbled by Dakorien Moore as he went out of bounds for an incompletion, on second down, Raiola sat in the pocket, found Johnson in the back of the end zone, giving Oregon the lead. The Ducks also converted the two-point conversion, pushing the lead to 17-14 with 28 seconds to go. Nebraska gained just one first down on its final futile drive, but the possession sputtered near midfield.
While the Ducks offense struggled for three quarters, the Huskers offense was far from fluid either. In 14 possessions, Nebraska had eight punts. The Huskers finally got on the board on their last drive of the first half, with Colandrea hitting Kwazi Gilmer for a 17-yard TD pass. The score was 7-0 NU heading into halftime. Oregon booted two field goals early in third quarter, but the Huskers extended the lead to 14-6 after the Colandrea TD run, setting the stage for a gut-wrenching fourth quarter.
Colandrea was 18-for-33 for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception while again leading NU in rushing with 13 carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. The rest of Nebraska’s rushing attack was an anemic 40 yards on 20 carries. Gilmer was the Huskers’ leading receiver with six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Owen Chambliss led NU with 15 tackles, while Dwayne McDougle III made 13 stops with an interception and a pass break up, while Caleb Benning, pressed into duty with Jamir Conn out due to injury, made 12 tackles including 2.5 for loss. Raiola was 11-for-18 for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Nebraska now gets an off-week heading to the blackout game Oct. 31 against Washington. Kickoff time is likely to be determined Monday, and the game will be broadcast on KLIN and Froggy 98.