Upset averted: Hagg picks off pass in overtime
A leaping interception by Eric Hagg allowed the Cornhuskers to survive overtime against Iowa State with a 31-30 victory.
Hagg’s play thwarted a two-point conversion attempt on a fake PAT kick that would have won the game for ISU.
Nebraska had scored first in overtime on a 19-yard touchdown run by I-back Rex Burkhead. The Cyclones answered with a nine-yard touchdown pass. On the conversion try, the holder took the snap and tried to find Collin Franklin in the end zone. Hagg picked off the pass to snuff out ISU’s upset bid.
With Taylor Martinez and Zac Lee injured, Husker sophomore quarterback Cody Green got his first start of the season, but staggered to the NU sideline after a big hit with about three minutes left in the first quarter. Martinez took the field but didn’t take a snap at quarterback.
Instead, Burkhead took his first snap of the season out of the Wildcat formation and sprinted 29 yards to the ISU 46. He continued in the Wildcat for the rest of the drive, carrying six times for 52 yards. The drive was capped by Roy Helu Jr.’s six-yard TD run early in the second quarter.
Burkhead finished with a 129 yards rushing, including all 25 of Nebraska’s yards in overtime.