UCLA seized control early and never let go in beating Nebraska, 27-20, Saturday at Memorial Stadium. After starting the season 5-1, the Huskers have dropped three games in a row and are now 0-7 under Matt Rhule when playing for bowl eligibility. Nebraska (5-4, 2-4) enters its second idle week with huge questions about the offense and the health of quarterback Dylan Raiola, worries about an inconsistent defense and the pressure of ending the longest bowl drought among the major conference schools in college football.
Raiola sustained a back injury on a scramble midway through the fourth quarter. He came onto the field to try to return to the game, only to collapse to the field and leave the game for good. The whole day was a struggle for Nebraska’s freshman quarterback, as he was 14-for-27 through the air with 177 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The first half was especially tough. He was 3-for-10 with 47 yards while being sacked twice in the first half.
The Bruins set the tone on the first drive of the game, a spirit-sapping 14-play, 68-yard slog that consumed eight minutes and ended with a 25-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghini. Nebraska gained just two yards on its first possession, a three-and-out, and punted the ball right back to UCLA (3-5, 2-4). Though the punt was a boomer, 64 yards by Brian Buschini, the Bruins went back on the march, nibbling their way down the field, converting three third downs before Ethan Garbers hit Jalen Berger for a 10-yard touchdown to push the Bruins lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Nebraska’s next drive started as poorly as its first: three straight incompletions, seeming to signal a second straight three-and-out. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave NU new life and pushed the ball to the Nebraska 40. Two plays later, Raiola found Jacory Barney, Jr., for a 40-yard gain to take the ball to the Bruins 20. Another Raiola to Barney connection gained seven yards, and then three straight Dante Dowdell runs punched the ball into the end zone and cut the UCLA lead to 10-7 with 10:02 to go until halftime.
UCLA faced 3rd and 9 from its 26 on the next drive, but Garbers scrambled for 57 yards to the NU 17. The Blackshirts stiffened and surrendered only a field goal to make it 13-7 Bruins with under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, and the score remained that way until halftime.
Nebraska had the ball to begin the second half, and on the first play from scrimmage from the 25, Raiola threw over the middle and was intercepted by Kain Medrano, who zig-zagged 38 yards to push the UCLA lead to 20-7. The Huskers turned the ball over on downs on the next drive, giving the Bruins possession at their 42. After an 18-yard run by T.J. Harden, Garbers hit Kwazi Gilmer for a 48-yard touchdown to make it 27-7 with 8:21 to go in the third.
Nebraska finally responded on the following drive. Aided by a UCLA unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Huskers moved across the 50. Then Raiola hit Barney for a 27-yard gain to take it to the 11. Two plays later, Raiola found Isaiah Neyor for an eight-yard touchdown to cut the Bruins’ lead to 27-14. Momentum seemed to be moving further in the Huskers’ favor on the last snap of the third quarter, when Raiola found Neyor for a 37-yard gain to take it the UCLA 31. After converting a 3rd and 2 from the 12 with a Dowdell run, Nebraska had 1st and goal from the 10. Dowdell gained five yards on a first-down run. But Raiola threw incomplete on 2nd and 3rd and goal, then was sacked on 4th and goal at the 5, and Nebraska turned it over on downs.
After a three-and-out by the Blackshirts, the Huskers took over on their 47. Nebraska converted two third downs to take it to the UCLA 29, then Raiola hit Neyor again, this time gaining 20 yards to set up 1st and goal at the 9. After a blown-up jet sweep lost four, Raiola was scrambling for the end zone but suffered a back while being tackled at the 2. Heinrich Haarberg took over at quarterback and was denied a rushing touchdown on 3rd and goal, but another Bruins unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Nebraska a fresh set of downs at the 1. Three plays later, Dante Dowdell hammered in a one-yard touchdown to cap a 13-play touchdown drive. However, John Hohl missed the extra point, and UCLA’s lead was 27-20 with just under four minutes to go.
The Blackshirts again clamped down the Bruins with another three-and-out, giving Nebraska the ball back at its 19 with 2:22 to play. On the first series of downs, NU faced 4th and 11, but Haarberg hit Neyor for a 24-yard gain to the Nebraska 42. Then on the next series of downs, Haarberg converted a 3rd and 10 with a scramble to the UCLA 48. Another third down conversion took the ball to the UCLA 34 with 39 seconds to go. But on first down, Fidone was penalized for illegal touching, costing the Huskers five yards and the down. Then on 2nd and 15 from the 39, Haarberg was intercepted and the comeback bid was squashed.
In relief of Raiola, Haarberg was 2-for-7 for 32 yards and one interception. Dowdell led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. Neyor was the Huskers top receiver, four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Barney also had four catches for 78 yards. Gifford was Nebraska’s leading tackler with nine, while DeShon Singleton had eight tackles, all solo.
The Huskers now take the week off before heading to USC on Nov. 16, still one win from eligibility.