Just one week after struggling against McNeese State at home, the Nebraska Cornhuskers came out fast against the Fresno State Bulldogs and never took their foot off the gas pedal. The Bulldogs were outscored in every quarter of the game, which made for a bit of an ugly contest between the two teams. The Nebraska Cornhuskers wound up winning the game by a final score of 55-19, a margin of victory of 36, which is much more comforting for all Cornhuskers fans after their 7 point win at home last week. Here is a quarter by quarter breakdown of the action from out in California.
1st Quarter
The Huskers were quick to get on the board in the game, scoring from the fourth play from scrimmage. After Tommy Armstrong Jr. had already rushed for a first down on the drive, he hit Jordan Westerkamp for a 70 passing touchdown. The Blackshirt defense of the Cornhuskers would then force a quick three and out. On the next offensive play Ameer Abdullah took the ball on a 57 yard rushing touchdown.
The first points given up by the Cornhuskers were in a fashion that would be easily dubbed as odd. They had touched the ball on a pooch punt by Fresno State and David Santos fumbled the ball at the Nebraska 10 yard line. Nebraska recovered it in the end zone which gave Fresno State 2 points and the ball. That was all the action for the first quarter.
2nd Quarter
The second quarter featured special teams plays. Drew Brown hit both a 22 and 38 yard field goal for Nebraska, and Kody Kroening hit a 27 yard field goal for Fresno State. But the most exciting play of the 2nd quarter was also on special teams, courtesy of Nebraska playmaker De'Mornay Pierson-El. He was back for a punt return and took the ball 86 yards for a touchdown. He is a true freshman out of Virginia and this is the first of many plays that Huskers fans are looking forward to from him.
3rd Quarter
Nebraska kept hitting on big plays in the second half. They had two drives of four plays that both resulted in touchdowns. Early in the third quarter, they connected on a Tommy Armstrong Jr. pass to Cethan Carter from 20 yards out. This drive was actually all Tommy Armstrong Jr. hitting 3 passes for 48 yards and having a 27 yard rush, accounting for all 75 yards and the touchdown.
Imani Cross got into the action as well. Nebraska had just given up a 66 yard rushing touchdown to Fresno State quarterback Brian Burrell, and then Pierson-El fumbled the kickoff and Nebraska had the ball at the 2 yard line. Cross only picked up 7 yards on the first two carries, setting up a third and three. Armstrong Jr. was able to find Lane Covey for a 29 yard gain to the Nebraska 38. Cross took the next carry all the way for the remaining 62 yards for a touchdown. This put Nebraska up 41-12 going into the final quarter.
4th Quarter
The Nebraska Cornhuskers got one final scoring drive with their starters to begin the fourth quarter. Tommy Armstrong Jr. found Sam Cotton for a 20 yard touchdown and it would be the last that he would see the field.
Backups came into the game and one of the first things that happened was Terrell Newby fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Fresno State. Brian Burrell would get his passing touchdown shortly thereafter for Fresno State, hitting Delvon Hardaway for a 8 yard touchdown.
The Husker backups would still add another score of their own to even things up. Ryker Fife found Christian Bailey with about 3 minutes remaining for a 10 yard touchdown reception. That would get the game to it's final. Husker 55-Bulldogs 19.
Next Up:
The Huskers travel back home to play the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in primetime action next Saturday, September 20. Fresno State had their 13 game home winning streak broken in this game, falling to 0-3 in this early season. They play the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at home next week, with both teams seeking their first win.