Recap: No. 22 Nebraska falls to No. 24 Illinois in overtime
No. 22 Nebraska football was upset by No. 24 Illinois in overtime on Friday, spoiling the Huskers' 400th sellout.
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Illinois possession: The Illini started with the ball, scoring a touchdown with ease. Kaden Feagin started it with a 21-yard run, and Pat Bryant slipped free for a 4-yard touchdown to finish the drive.
Nebraska possession: The Huskers opened their possession with a false start, followed by Raiola being sacked for a loss of nine yards. He then took another, this one a much longer loss to Nebraska's own 43-yard line. After a short completion, Raiola was taken down once more on 4th down to seal the Illini win.
FOURTH QUARTER
After an incompletion, Dylan Raiola tossed a 44-yard pass to Isaiah Neyor, followed by a 29-yard completion to Thomas Fidone inside the 5-yard line while taking a hit on the throw. Dante Dowdell ended the third quarter with a 1-yard run to the 1-yard line. The fourth quarter opened with a walk-in touchdown for Janiran Bonner on the sweep pass from Raiola.
Illinois responded with a hot start on its next drive, as Kaden Feagin recorded runs of 11 and 16 yards. The latter was made even worse for the Huskers thanks to a facemask penalty, and a 15-yard pass moved the Illini inside the Nebraska 15-yard line. Two stuffed runs set up a 3rd and 9, where Altmeyer took off and was stopped a couple yards short. On 4th and 2, the quarterback found offensive lineman Brandon Henderson — in as a tight end — for a touchdown.
Raiola was sacked and fumbled twice in a span of three plays, with the Huskers recovering both. Still, Nebraska had to punt.
Illinois opened its next drive with a 21-yard run, but Altmeyer was sacked by and fumbled on the next play. Nebraska recovered to end the Illini effort.
After Nebraska picked up a 3rd down conversion with a Raiola checkdown, the Huskers went to a trick play. Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg passed back to Raiola, who found Jahmal Banks for a first down. A series of runs brought Nebraska inside the Illinois 30-yard line, and a Banks catch set up 3rd and 3 at the Illini 21. Raiola had a wide-open Luke Lindenmeyer open on the play-action for a potential touchdown, but just overshot him. John Hohl attempted and missed a 39-yard field goal with three minutes remaining.
Illinois opened the drive with four straight runs, gaining 23 yards and one first down. Altmeyer passed for another first down, but the drive stalled just beyond midfield, capped by a 3rd down throwaway. The punt was downed inside the Nebraska 10-yard line with 26 seconds to go.
Nebraska took a knee, sending the game into overtime.
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THIRD QUARTER
Illinois started the half with the ball, and after two short runs, Luke Altmeyer converted the 3rd down with a 12-yard throw to Zakhari Franklin. A holding call on a screen on the next play set up 1st and 20, but that didn't stop the Illini. Altmeyer threw a 16-yard 3rd down pass to keep things moving. Nebraska finally got a stop, forcing Illinois to punt from the Huskers' 45-yard line on 4th and 6. Franklin was injured on the drive and did not return before the team punted.
Starting at its own 12-yard line, Nebraska opened its first drive of the half with a 29-yard pass to Isaiah Neyor, but two short runs and an incompletion led to a punt, slightly backed up by a false start. Brian Buschini's effort was a good one, but so was the return, forcing him to make a likely touchdown-saving tackle on the sideline. Illinois will start its next drive at its 43-yard line.
Illinois was once again forced to work for its yardage, just barely converting on a 3rd and 1 early in the drive. A one-handed grab and stumble forward set up a 4th and 1 in Husker territory. The Illini went for it, once again being given the yardage on a close call. An MJ Sherman unnecessary roughness call made matters worse, moving Illinois to the Nebraska 22. Another 3rd down conversion came on a throw to a wide-open Tanner Arkin in the flat, and he earned a wide-open touchdown the play after.
SECOND QUARTER
Vincent Jackson was called for a hands to the face penalty and Josh McCray ran up the middle for eight yards to bring the ball inside the NU 35. McCray then was wrapped up by Ty Robinson after a gain of one. McCray stayed down after the play. On 3rd and short, Altmyer took off for a 1st down on the option and Ty Robinson picked up a personal foul on a facemask to bring the ball inside the 15. John Bullock broke up Altmyer's swing pass to McCray and a short Feagin run brought up 3rd and long. Altmyer took off again on the scramble but this time Jimari Butler tripped him up to force a short 26-yard field goal which is good to tie it at 10.
Jacory Barney's return started the Huskers near their own 30. Dowdell ran for three yards then Raiola fired up the seam for a big connection to Barney. The QB then rolled out and threw just low along the sideline for Fidone. Rahmir Johnson broke through for a gain of nine and Raiola on the hurry-up kept it on the option for a 1st down. Raiola threw deep for Banks down the right sideline incomplete then his screen to Barney went for no gain after a nice Illinois stop. On 3rd and 10, Raiola fired to Fidone but offsetting penalties replayed the down. Raiola's jump ball to Neyor was originally called a touchdown but the ball appeared to be ripped away by the Illini cornerback Torrie Cox Jr. After review, the call was reversed to an interception and touchback.
Altmyer's pass over the middle to Zakhari Franklin went for 17 yards as he broke a couple Husker tackles. Feagin then carried up the middle for six then Bullock picked up the sack after Altmyer rolled out and went down to bring up a 3rd and 6. Altmyer's pass on the hook route fell incomplete but a holding penalty on Ceyair Wright extended the drive. Altmyer connected with Dixon for a gain of nine after having all day to throw, bringing the ball into Husker territory. Feagin rushed for five and a 1st down. After Bullock stopped Feagin for a short gain, Altmyer chucked it deep for Pat Bryant incomplete. Illinois called its second timeout before a false start penalty was called on the field. Altmyer's pass to Franklin was just outside his reach bringing up 4th down and the offense stayed on the field. Nash Hutmacher tracked down Altmyer who scrambled out of the pocket and the Huskers turned the Illini over on downs!
After Dowdell ran for three yards, Raiola checked it down to him underneath for a six-yard gain and Dowdell pushed ahead for the 1st down on 3rd and inches to bring up the two-minute timeout. Dowdell then bounced it outside picking up nine before running out of bounds. Dowdell then slashed for another nine, then picked up four more running to the right. Rahmir Johnson entered for the Oregon transfer and rushed for no gain bringing up a 3rd and 6. Raiola fired a back-shoulder pass to Banks for a 27-yard catch and NU called a timeout with 23 seconds left. Raiola then found Neyor for a 11-yard score on an all-out highlight play. After buying more time in the pocket, the QB threw a strike to the front corner of the end zone and Neyor snatched it in front of the defender, putting down the toe tap. Illinois challenged the play and the TD was confirmed. The Hohl PAT is good.
Illinois took a knee to take the game to the break.
FIRST QUARTER
Jaylen Lloyd grabbed Dylan Raiola's pass over the middle for a gain of 12 yards. A three-yard carry from Dante Dowdell was followed by an incompletion looking to get it to Johnson. Raiola's pass on 3rd down was a little behind Isaiah Neyor forcing the punt.
Kaden Feagin ran right into John Bullock to start the Illini drive for a gain of two then Luke Altmyer found Zakhari Franklin on the sideline for a pickup of seven. Altmyer lobbed it down the right sideline over the outstretched arms of the NU defender for a 1st down and a gain of nine. Altmyer then stepped into a throw to Tanner Arkin for 10 yards. After a short Feagin run, Bryant slipped past Tommi Hill on the right sideline for a wide-open 27-yard touchdown. The David Olano PAT is good.
Rahmir Johnson on the pitch picked up four before Raiola ran out of time and was coverage sacked by Alec Bryant to bring up 3rd and long. Raiola zipped it to Jahmal Banks over the middle who leapt up and grabbed the high pass for 12 yards and a 1st down. Dowdell picked his way for a short gain then Banks gained five on a sidearm Raiola pass to the sideline. Raiola then fired over the middle to Thomas Fidone for another 3rd-down conversion and a 17-yard gain to the Illini 40. A checkdown to Dowdell went for four. A broken screen to Jacory Barney lost yardage but Raiola picked up another 1st down on another sideline throw to Banks. Banks grabbed his fourth catch, eluding Illinois defenders and nearly moving the chains again. Dowdell was stuffed for no gain and on 3rd and short, the Oregon transfer burst into the pile and got just enough for the 1st down. Raiola found Rahmir Johnson near the sideline for a short gain to the Illini 17 then Johnson grabbed the swing pass, made a defender miss and pushed down inside the five to bring up 1st and goal. Illinois then used its first timeout. Dowdell slammed up the middle for two then Raiola's fade throw to Neyor in the end zone fell incomplete. On 3rd down, Raiola found Johnson in the corner of the end zone but his feet were just out to bring up a 21-yard John Hohl field goal which went up and good.
The Illinois drive started at the 26 with an Altmyer swing pass to Aidan Laughery who fell down for a 3-yard loss. Hank Beatty caught a pass over the middle but was stripped by John Bullock and DeShon Singleton picked up the fumble.
Dowdell started the drive with a cutback and a 14-yard gain. He then ran up the middle for four getting inside the Illini 20. Isaiah Neyor took the flip on the endaround for 13 yards and a 1st down. Neyor then grabbed a six-yard touchdown pass on a play-action sling over the middle from Raiola! The Hohl PAT is good.
Kenari Wilcher brought the Brian Buschini kick to the Illinois 30 and Altmyer rolled out to Collin Dixon for a good gain but an ineligible man downfield brought the play back. Cameron Lenhardt's offsides brought the ball back to the original line of scrimmage on the last play of the quarter.
Husker fans pile into Memorial Stadium for a Friday Night Lights ranked matchup.
