Nebraska uses second-half momentum to roll past Purdue

League: NCAA Football


Posted on: 29 Sep, 2024 at 04:13 AM

Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Dylan Raiola went 17-of-27 passing for 257 yards and a touchdown to lead Nebraska to a 28-10 win at Purdue in a Big Ten contest on Saturday at West Lafayette, Ind.

Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) limited Purdue (1-3, 0-1) to 224 yards of total offense.

Hudson Card went 18-of-25 passing with a touchdown and an interception in defeat for Purdue, which had 13 penalties for 165 yards.

Trailing 3-0 in the third quarter, Nebraska scored four consecutive touchdowns to pull away.

Nebraska drove 70 yards in nine plays and grabbed a 7-3 lead on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Raiola to Jahmal Banks with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Cornhuskers gambled on fourth down and it paid off, as Dante Dowdell scored from the 1-yard line with 10:34 left in the game to give Nebraska a 14-3 lead.

With 6:13 remaining, Nebraska took a 21-3 lead on a 25-yard touchdown run by Jacory Barney Jr.

John Bullock then picked off a pass from Card and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to put Nebraska ahead 28-3 with 5:38 left.

Purdue's only touchdown came when Card hit Leland Smith for a 15-yard score with 1:29 remaining.

After a scoreless first half, Purdue drove the field on the first possession of the second half and took a 3-0 lead on a 45-yard field goal by Spencer Porath. The kick finished a 13-play, 55-yard drive that took 8:08 off the clock.

Each team had opportunities to score in the first half, but couldn't cash in. Nebraska kicker Josh Hohl missed a 42-yard field goal, and on the ensuing possession, Porath missed a 39-yard field goal for the Boilermakers.

Purdue thought it had scored a touchdown in the second quarter when Card hit Jaron Tibbs for a 51-yard touchdown pass, but the play was called back when officials ruled Card was across the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass.

--Field Level Media