The Huskers drop to 1-2 after a 45-42 defeat to the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Huskers lost another one-possession game, the tenth straight in the Scott Frost era. Tonight marked the first time in Nebraska Football History that the Cornhuskers scored 35 points in Memorial Stadium and lost. Until tonight NU was 214-0.
Georgia Southern scored first on a 13-play, 74-yard drive.
The Eagles held a 7-0 lead until The Huskers answered back with a touchdown drive of their own that ended with an impressive 8-yard touchdown run by Casey Thompson.
Georgia Southern would regain their seven-point lead in a rapid 8-play drive, putting the Eagles up 14-7.
The Huskers tied up the game at 14 on their next drive on a 21 Yard touchdown pass from Casey Thompson to Brody Belt.
Marques Buford Jr picked up his first interception of the year off an errant throw from Eagles QB Kyle Vantrease. NU capitalized off the turnover after Anthony Grant punched the ball in from the 4-yard line putting Nebraska up 21-14.
Georgia Southern quickly tied up the game at 21 after Eagles runningback Gerald Green busted a 67-yard run to the NU 3-yard line and scored two plays later.
The Huskers punted on their next drive. Green gashed another run for the Eagles, this time for 47 yards and a touchdown giving Georgia Southern a 28-21 lead with 4 minutes to go in the half.
Casey Thompson continued to roll in the first half and tallied a second rushing touchdown to tie the game at 28.
Georgia Southern got the ball back and marched to Nebraska’s three-yard line but did not score any points after committing a snap infraction, which ended the half.
Both offenses got rolling in the first half. Casey Thompson started the half 10/11 on throws and exited the half with 202 yards and three total Touchdowns. Georgia Southern found major success on the ground and totaled 171 first-half rushing yards.
Georgia Southern started the half with the ball and marched down to score in under three minutes. Eagles QB Kyle Vantrease completed six of eight passes, ending with a 10-yard touchdown pass which gave the Eagles a 35-28 lead.
Nebraska would go three and out, but the Blackshirts stepped up and get the ball back for the Huskers.
Starting on their own 16, The Huskers drove 84 yards and tied the game at 35 after an Ajay Allen rushing touchdown.
The Eagles drove 77 yards down the field but would kick a field goal after a clutch goal-line stand by the Nebraska defense.
The Cornhusker’s first drive of the 4th quarter was a three-and-out. Georgia Southern, up 38-35, marched down to the Husker 28-yard line.
The Eagles looked moments away from closing the door on Nebraska until Marques Buford grabbed his second interception of the game on the Husker 2-yard line.
Nebraska drove 98 yards down the field and took a 42-38 lead with three minutes left in the game. Thompson tallied his 3rd rushing touchdown.
The Eagles would not go away quietly. Georgia Southern converted on a 4th down in their own territory and later scored the game-winning touchdown off a Kyle Vantrease 8-yard run.
The Huskers got the ball back and gave kicker Timmy Bleekrode an opportunity to send the game to overtime, but he would miss the 52-yard field goal.
Nebraska’s offense looked the best it has all season. Casey Thompson ended the game with four total touchdowns and 318 passing yards, completing 23 of 34 passing attempts. Anthony Grant had his third straight 100-plus yard rushing game, totaling 138.
The Nebraska defense gave up 642 total yards of offense. Most of which came from Kyle Vantrease, who totaled 409 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Blackshirts also allowed 233 rushing yards. Three rushes alone accounted for 140 yards.
Nebraska defensive back Marques Buford was one of the only bright spots for the defense, grabbing two interceptions, both of which turned into points for NU.
Scott Frost said at the post-game press conference
“That one hurt, we win as a team and lose as a team, and we got beat today’ Frost said “I think we got out schemed; we really didn’t have an answer.”
Frost said at the end of the press conference
“I just appreciate it. It’s fun being here, and I’m blessed to be the coach here.” Frost said. “I love this state and this program. I’m fighting with everything I have, and so is the rest of the coaching staff.”
After tonight’s disappointing loss at home, the future is unknown for Scott Frost at Nebraska. But the decision to keep or get rid of Frost lies in the hands of one man, Trev Alberts. Alberts has many things to ponder over the next couple of days, the most notable being that Frost’s buyout cuts in half from $15 million to $7.5 million on October 1st. Todays loss will make for interesting days ahead in Lincoln, Nebraska