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Huskers squeak past Demon Deacons
The Nebraska Blackshirts made huge defensive plays late in the game to preserve a 20-17 road victory over defending ACC champion Wake Forest.
After surrendering a quick touchdown to give Wake Forest a 17-13 lead less than five minutes into the second half, the Blackshirts slammed the door on the Demon Deacons the rest of the ways.
No defensive play was bigger than a late fourth-quarter stop with just over six minutes to go when senior captain Zackary Bowman leaped to pick off a Brett Hodges third-down pass in the end zone to stop the potential go-ahead touchdown by Wake Forest.
Bowman’s interception seemed to spark the Nebraska offense, as the Huskers took control and marched NU to the Wake Forest 35.
The Demon Deacon defense held on fourth down with 1:45 left to give Wake Forest one final chance. Walk-on defensive back Ben Eisenhart appeared to make the Blackshirts’ final big play by intercepting a pass that was tipped by Cortney Grixby, but the call on the field was reversed by replay officials to give Wake Forest one final chance on fourth-and-10.
Called on for one final time, the Blackshirts stepped up again by forcing an incompletion with just over a minute left to give the ball back to the Husker offense to run out the clock.