Ben Solomon

Nebraska 28
Rutgers 21

Dec. 18, 2020 • 6:30 p.m. Central
SHI Stadium •Piscataway, NJ • BTN
1st2nd3rd4th F 
Nebraska0714728
Rutgers3117021
Adrian Martinez

Adrian Martinez had 407 yards of total offense, helping the Huskers shake off his four turnovers. | Ben Solomon photo
First quarter
RU: Ambrosio 36 field goal, 8:55
Second quarter
RU: Ambrosio 42 field goal, 13:20
NU: Robinson 1 run (Culp kick) 10:07
RU: Pacheco 33 run (Melton pass from Sitkowski) 3:19
Third quarter
NU: Martinez 41 run (Culp kick) 9:06
RU: Cruickshank 98 kickoff return (Ambrosio kick) 8:53
NU: Robinson 14 pass from Martinez (Culp kick) 0:43
Fourth quarter
NU: Martinez 1 run (Culp kick) 9:55

                             NU       RU
FIRST DOWNS................. 27        9
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)...... 58-365   30-130
PASSING YDS (NET).......... 255      122
Passes Att-Comp-Int.... 28-24-2  22-11-1
TOTAL OFFENSE .......... 86-620   52-252
Fumble Returns-Yards....... 0-0     1--7
Punt Returns-Yards......... 0-0     1-11
Kickoff Returns-Yards..... 2-27    5-192
Int. Returns-Yards......... 1-0      2-9
Punts (Number-Avg)...... 3-42.3   5-43.4
Fumbles-Lost............... 5-2      1-0
Penalties-Yards........... 9-56     5-32
Possession Time.......... 39:31    20:29
Third-Down Conv. ........  7/13     2/13
Fourth-Down Conversions.... 2/2      2/3
Red-Zone Scores-Chances.... 3-4      1-1
Sacks By: Number-Yards.... 2-17     3-19

RUSHING
NU: Mills, Dedrick 25-191; Martinez, A. 23-157; Robinson, W. 7-24; Johnson, R. 1-0; TEAM 2-minus 7.

RU: Langan, Johnny 9-54; Pacheco, Isaih 7-42; Korsak, Adam 1-17; Adams, Kay'Ron 6-12; Young, Aaron 3-10; Melton, Bo 1-9; Sitkowski, A. 3-minus 14.

PASSING
NU: Martinez, A. 24-28-2-255.

RU: Rutgers-Sitkowski, A. 10-20-0-122; Langan, Johnny 1-2-1-0.

RECEIVING
NU: Robinson, W. 6-79; Mills, Dedrick 6-45; Stoll, Jack 3-44; Brown, Alante 2-25; Allen, Austin 2-22; Vokolek, Travis 1-16; Falck, Levi 1-15; Johnson, R. 1-5; Martin, Oliver 1-4; Hickman, Chris 1-0.

RU: Melton, Bo 5-81; Jones, Shameen 2-24; Cruickshank, A. 1-6; Young, Aaron 1-6; Dremel, C. 1-5; Adams, Kay'Ron 1-0.
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FANALYTIX

Huskers overcome mistakes, wear down Rutgers

Nebraska rolled up 620 yards of total offense and put together its strongest second half of the season to secure a 28-21 Big Ten Conference road win Friday night over Rutgers.

Adrian Martinez, Dedrick Mills and Wan’Dale Robinson all had big nights as the Huskers notched their third victory of the season. Martinez racked up more than 400 yards of total offense by completing 24 of 28 passes for 255 yards with one touchdown. He added 23 carries for 157 yards and two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner on a one-yard plunge with 9:55 left in the game.

Mills was even bigger on the ground for the Huskers, carrying 28 times for 191 yards, to help Nebraska amass 365 rushing yards. Mills added six receptions for 45 yards to total 236 all-purpose yards.

Robinson joined Martinez by scoring a pair of Husker touchdowns, including a tough 14-yard catch in traffic with 43 seconds left in the third quarter to tie the game at 21. Robinson finished with six receptions for 79 yards while adding seven carries for 24 yards on the ground.

Nebraska’s big totals on offense came despite turning the ball over four times, including a pair of fumbles and an interception by Martinez in the first half. Rutgers turned the Husker turnovers into a 14-7 halftime lead, but the defense minimized the damage to keep Nebraska in the game.

The Blackshirts held Rutgers to 252 yards of total offense while limiting the Scarlet Knights to 52 plays from scrimmage. Nebraska dominated time of possession, 39:31 to 20:29.

Omaha World-Herald*
Lincoln Journal Star*
Husker247
Hail Varsity
More Neb. Sources
HuskerOnline
Daily Nebraskan
Nebraska Athletics
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Newark Star-Ledger
Asbury Park Press
Scarlet Nation
The Knight Report
On the Banks
Rutgers Athletics
Associated Press
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Pregame & team info
Pregame page & opp. info
Predictions | Stats matchup
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Practice reports:
MON | TUE | WED
More pregame press
2020 schedule
10/24@ Ohio St.L 17-52
11/07@ NorthwesternL 13-21
11/14Penn St.W 30-23
11/21IllinoisL 23-41
11/27@ IowaL 20-26
12/05@ PurdueW 37-27
12/12MinnesotaL 17-24
12/18@ RutgersW 28-21
Ben Solomon
Dedrick Mills rushed for 191 yards.

Commentary

Stryker

Nebraska doubled down on shooting itself in the foot, then atoned for its errors by doubling down on running the football.

Tad Stryker
HuskerMax
Shatel

It was the 2020 season in one game, a grab bag full of goodies and sharp objects.

Tom Shatel
Omaha World-Herald
Sipple

Martinez was a warrior. Really, the entire team fit that description in the final 30 minutes. It was a wild mood swing that produced a hard-fought win.

Steven M. Sipple
Lincoln Journal Star
Callahan

The Scarlet Knights came into this game knowing they had to run the ball to win, and the Blackshirts shut it down.

Sean Callahan
HuskerOnline
Christopherson

Nebraska had touchdown drives of 90, 96 and 92 yards in this game. Not your everyday occurrence.

Brian Christopherson
Husker247
Chatelain

In a game that would’ve been easier to skip, Nebraska got a reward for its commitment and determination.

Dirk Chatelain
Omaha World-Herald
Vogel

The Huskers still aren’t buttoned-up as a program. The intense devotion to details that defines every football program that wins consistently isn’t there yet.

Brandon Vogel
Hail Varsity
Wirt

It’s incredibly concerning that Rutgers made a close contest of Friday’s game despite managing just nine first downs and 252 yards of offense.

Landon Wirt
Daily Nebraskan
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