Nebraska 32
Michigan 28

Dec. 28, 2005 • 7:10 p.m. Central
Alamo Bowl • El Paso, TX • ESPN
1st2nd3rd4th F 
Michigan777728
Nebraska7731532

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1st quarter
NU: Nunn 52 pass from Taylor (Congdon kick) 8:04
UM: Ecker 13 pass from Henne (Rivas kick) 5:48
2nd quarter
UM: Massey 16 pass from Henne (Rivas kick) 11:43
NU: Swift 14 pass from Taylor (Congdon kick) 2:37
3rd quarter
NU: Congdon 20 FG, 8:54
UM: Manningham 21 pass from Henne (Rivas kick) 6:31
4th quarter
UM: Henne 7 run (Rivas kick) 11:40
NU: Ross 31 run (Peterson pass from Taylor) 8:08
NU: Nunn 13 pass from Taylor (Congdon kick) 4:29

                              UM       NU
FIRST DOWNS.................. 23       16
  Rushing.................... 10        7
  Passing.................... 11        6
  Penalty..................... 2        3
NET YARDS RUSHING........... 130      151
  Rushing Attempts........... 42       37
  Avg. Per Rush............. 3.1      4.1
  Yards Gained Rushing...... 162      185
  Yards Lost Rushing......... 32       34
NET YARDS PASSING........... 270      167
  Comp-Attempts-Int..... 21-43-1  14-31-2
  Avg. Per Attempt.......... 6.3      5.4
  Avg. Per Completion...... 12.9     11.9
TOTAL OFFENSE............ 85-400   68-318
  Average Per Play.......... 4.7      4.7
Fumble Returns-Yards........ 0-0     2-16
Punt Returns-Yards......... 7-72     3-32
Kickoff Returns-Yards..... 6-186     2-43
Int. Returns-Yards.......... 2-0      1-0
Punts (Number-Avg)....... 7-34.9   8-51.5
Fumbles-Lost................ 4-2      0-0
Penalties-Yards............ 6-49     9-76
Possession Time........... 31:21    28:39
Third-Down Conv. .......... 5/17     4/16
Fourth-Down Conv. .......... 1/2      0/1
Sacks By: Number-Yards..... 5-27     4-22

RUSHING
UM: Hart, Mike 19-74; Henne, Chad 13-38; Grady, Kevin 5-17; Bass, Antonio  3-4; TEAM 1-minus-1; Breaston, Steve 1-minus-2.

NU: Ross, Cory 28-161; Lucky, Marlon 1-3; Team 1-minus-3; Taylor, Zac 7-minus-10.

PASSING
UM: Henne, Chad 43-21-1 270.
NU: Taylor, Zac 31-14-2 167.

RECEIVING
UM: Avant, Jason  8-71; Manningham, M. 3-28; Bass, Antonio 3-24; Hart, Mike 2-35; Massey, Mike 2-18; Ecker, Tyler  1-71; Bradley, Alijah 1-15; Breaston, Steve 1-8.

NU: Nunn, Terrence 4-91; Swift, Nate 3-31; Hardy, Frantz 3-27; Ross, Cory 3-8; Phillips, J.B. 1-10.

Attendance: 62,016

The final play


Brothers

Bowman

Michigan’s last-chance play consisted of one forward pass and seven laterals. The saving tackle by Zackary Bowman and Titus Brothers happened more than 40 seconds after the snap.

Coverage

Stats & Recap
Complete Stats

Huskers rally, then survive wild finish

Nebraska overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter and then survived an unforgettably bizarre finish for a 32-28 win over No. 20 Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.

I-back Cory Ross rushed for 161 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown run with 8:08 left to start Nebraska’s comeback from a 28-17 deficit. Cortney Grixby had given the Huskers prime field position with a 25-yard punt return to the UM 38. After Ross’ TD and a two-point conversion, Michigan’s lead was down to 28-25.

Two minutes later came a pivotal play as Husker safety Blake Tiedtke hit quarterback Chad Henne and forced a fumble, which was returned by defensive tackle Ola Dagundaro to the UM 17. Three plays later, quarterback Zac Taylor passed to Terrence Nunn for the go-ahead TD with 4:29 left.

Michigan drove inside the Nebraska 20 on its next possession before the Blackshirts held on fourth down with 2:34 to go. After three Husker runs and a punt, Michigan had the ball at its own 36 with seven seconds left.

An incompletion ate up five seconds. With one last chance, Michigan completed a short pass and began lateraling to keep the ball alive. The play advanced into Husker territory, then retreated all the way back inside the UM 25. There the ball hit the turf on a muffed lateral.

Thinking the play and the game were over, some players eased up. Coaches and players from both benches went onto the field. Amid the chaos, Michigan’s Tyler Ecker raced down the right sideline toward a potential touchdown. Nebraska’s victory wasn’t secured until defensive backs Titus Brothers and Zackary Bowman knocked Ecker out of bounds at the Nebraska 15.

Omaha World-Herald*
Lincoln Journal Star*
Grand Island Indep.*
More Neb. sources
Huskers.com
HuskerOnline
Daily Nebraskan
Husker247
Opponent Sources
Detroit Free Press
Toledo Blade
Michigan Daily
Michigan Athletics
More Sources
San Antonio Express-News
Austin American-Statesman
Houston Chronicle
New York Times*
NBC Sports
Associated Press
ESPN
AlamoBowl.com
The officiating
ESPN
Sun Belt Conference
Photos/Audio/Video
Photos
Video
Pregame & team info
2005 schedule
04/16Red 14, White 42
09/03MaineW 25-7
09/10Wake ForestW 31-3
09/17PittsburghW 7-6
10/01Iowa StateW 27-20
10/08Texas TechL 31-34
10/15@ BaylorW 23-14
10/22@ MissouriL 24-41
10/29OklahomaL 24-31
11/05@ KansasL 15-40
11/12Kansas St.W 27-25
11/25@ ColoradoW 30-3
12/28MichiganW 32-28
Courtesy of Huskers.com
Cory Ross rushed for 161 yards.

Commentary

Colonel Mustard

Our ability to run the ball against a fine defense was a pleasant surprise.


Colonel Mustard
HuskerMax
Shatel

It was a masterpiece, a portrait of what this team was and what Coach Bill Callahan's program is after two seasons. Tough. Resilient. Full of character.

Tom Shatel
Omaha World-Herald
Leever

Sometimes there are players you wish would never leave. Ross is one.

Jeffrey A. Leever
HuskerMax
McKeever

The Huskers are just as the head coach claims, right on schedule to being a reborn, once-again proud nation. Actually, they might be arriving early.

Curt McKeever
Lincoln Journal Star
Khus the Red

The 2005 Axe of Valor goes to Zac Taylor. This first-year starter played with wisdom beyond his few months in Red.

Khus the Red
HuskerMax
Douglass

Winning a bowl game against a traditional Big Ten power like Michigan makes the long Nebraska winter that much shorter for Husker Nation.

Terry Douglass *
Grand Island Independent
Husker Mike

In a Husker season filled with bizarre endings, the Alamo Bowl almost topped all of them.

Husker Mike
Husker Dan

The Huskers were out-manned, but not outplayed by the Wolverines.

Husker Dan
HuskerMax
Washut

Nebraska ... still has a few miles to go before it can even think about running with Southern Cal or Texas.

Robin Washut
Daily Nebraskan
Harris

Bad officiating aside, a good team, a Top 20 team like Michigan, doesn't blow an 11-point fourth-quarter lead like the Wolverines did.

John Harris
Toledo Blade
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