Tommy gave his all. After seeing him writhing on the ground, legs spasming in pain as he lay on the sideline, I thought he was done. Fourth quarter, critical mass. Ryker Fife sent in to take a snap. I have about as much confidence in Fife as I do a Nigerian Prince who needs my account in order to free up assets.
One play, a badly short pass. Then we had to punt. Things did not look good.
The defense rose to the challenge, as they did, most of the day. Yeah, Oregon had scored some points, that's what they do. Their best running back had been injured in the fourth quarter, I don't think they missed him. Almost all of Oregon's points came on big plays. The zone read, that damned zone read. The Huskers actually seemed to have it under control, for most of the game. Really, they did, but the Ducks have enough quick, shifty backs that one mistake can cost you, and they made Nebraska pay. Three times the Ducks scored from 20 yards or more, all runs. Kani Benoit averaged 16.7 yards a carry, good thing they only let him touch it 6 times.
The thing about Oregon, is that everyone thinks they throw the ball all over the field. Nope. They run that zone read over and over again, then throw out of the zone read look. They ran the ball 47 times, and attempted 23 passes. Dakota Prukop, the graduate transfer, accounted for 243 of Oregon's 482 yards of offense. That's right, 482 yards, back in the day, Charlie McBride would have been biting aluminum benches in two, if the Blackshirts had given up that many yards. Charlie never had to face the Quack Attack.
Speaking of the Quack Attack, a lot has been being made about Oregon going 1-4 on they're 2PAT attempts. If they just kick those, they win by one, has been the prevailing theme. Oversimplification, at best. Each decision on strategy and play calling, is dictated primarily by the score at the time.
What the defense did do right, was force Oregon to punt the ball on six possessions, and a turnover on downs with time running out. You could see how Oregon would win or lose a series on first down, if they got behind the chains, it got easier for the defense. They held Oregon without a touchdown pass for the first time in 82 games. Prukop was limited to a quarterback rating of 44.6, which is pretty good.
The D-line did pretty well, getting a good push, for most of the game. The ends had a bit of a challenge with the zone read, but that's what the zone read does, it forces the ends to commit, and make them pay if they commit the wrong way.
The line-backers did a good job of flowing to the point of attack, but too many whiffs on the edge, from being out of position, made it a rough day for them. They did get decent pressure on some blitzes, and they dropped back into coverage, a lot, which helped the D-backs.
Speaking of the D-backs, pretty much high praise all the way around. Most of the time, Prukop would drop back to pass, and check down several spots, or get pressure, because the deep guys had things pretty much under control. Yes, they had a couple of breakdowns, like allowing a 25 yard completion on 2nd and 27, that Oregon converted on a 3rd and 2 with a 41-yard touchdown run. It was a good throw by Prukop, but on 2nd and 27, the defense should win that battle.
The offense took a while to get going, and when they did, it was by the classic ground game setting up the pass. Nebraska also ran the ball 47 times. They got 228 yards out of it, but missed the big plays that Oregon hit on. The longest run by a running back was 19 yards.
The most painful sequence to watch happened in the second quarter. The Huskers had driven down to the Oregon 12, trailing 14-7, Tommy tried to hit Mikael Wilbon for a swing pass, that was a backward pass. Wilbon couldn't get a handle on it, it was a fumble which Oregon recovered and returned to midfield. I want to say it was a gadget play. Wilbon hadn't even been in the game, to that point, if he catches it and slings it into the end zone for a touchdown, then it's a brilliant call at just the right time. Instead, it was 'cutesy' and resulted in a 14 point swing, Oregon's way.
Demornay Pierson-El provided a spark. His 43 yard punt return, after getting hit and interfered with, before even touching the ball, was as pretty as a Porsche 911 on the Autobahn. That set up the score, right before the half, that Nebraska needed. Weird series, too.
1. At the Oregon 19, Tommy hits Stanley Morgan for a first down at the 8.
2. Oregon 8, Nebraska spikes ball to stop the clock at 0:26
3. Oregon 8, Tommy misses JW
4. Oregon 8, Tommy tries to hit Morgan in the endzone, but, interference on the Ducks.
5. Oregon 2, False start, Nebraska.
6. Oregon 7, Tommy tries to hit JW in the endzone, Oregon again interferes.
7. Oregon 2, Tommy rolls out, finds nothing, runs out of bounds.
8. Oregon 3, Tommy lofts a perfect pass to JW in the endzone for a TD.
The play where Tommy ate the ball and took a one-yard loss, might have been the smartest play Tommy did all day. Bad Tommy, the one who tries to force the ball in between defenders, the one who throws deep balls across his body to the opposite side of the field, didn't do those things. He kept his mind in the moment and it paid off.
Back to Tommy. Final drive that mattered. Trailing 32-28, 80 yards away, 7:32 to go in the game. Nebraska needed a touchdown. Devine Ozigbo on three straight runs, gets the ball to the Nebraska 45, with 6:23 left. Then, the football gods decided to mess with both teams. Nebraska tried to run a jet sweep, or maybe it was just motion, but the center snapped the ball and it hit the receiver, who couldn't handle it, and Oregon pounced on it. That's it. Game over.
But wait, flag on the play. False start, Nebraska, dead ball foul, play never happened.
Best. Penalty. Ever.
Tommy runs for 13, holding downfield makes it 2nd and three instead of moving the chains.
Devine picks up the first down. 4:33 to go. Devine loses 3, Tommy gains four. On third and 9, Tommy tries for Cethan Carter, who can't come up with it, his getting hit before the ball got there, is apparently of no concern to the officials.
Fourth down, 3:14 to go. Money time, Tommy gimps up to the line, gets the snap, drops back, finds his bestest buddy, JW open and hits him for a 14 yard gain and a first down.
Nebraska was at the Oregon 38, with 3:01 to go, draining the clock, but needing to score. Tommy, in pain, runs for four. Time slip sliding away, Nebraska lines up in a passing formation. It's obvious to everyone that Now they must throw the ball. Tommy gets the snap, takes a step back, plants his foot and goes. He goes through the line and has blockers. He gets through the second level, his legs on fire from dehydration, churning out step after agonizing step, each one ever closer to the goal line. A duck lands on his back and tries to haul him down. Tommy keeps pumping his legs, diving, reaching, getting the ball past the pylons for the game-winning touchdown.
It may not have been the biggest win in Nebraska history. It may not even be the biggest win of this coaching staff. What this win does, is help push Nebraska back into relevance. That 1970 GTO may still need some parts, but it muscled it's way to a win, a win that Coach definitely had to savor.
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