EVANSTON, Ill. -- Clayton Thorson threw for a career-high 455 yards and three touchdowns, and Drew Luckenbaugh kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime to give Northwestern a 34-31 victory over winless Nebraska on Saturday afternoon.
Nebraska (0-6, 0-4 Big Ten) blew a 10-point lead in the final 5:41 in regulation and fell to 0-6 for the first time ever. The Cornhuskers also extended the longest losing streak in the storied program's history to 10 games. It's not the start coach Scott Frost envisioned when he decided to take over at his alma mater after orchestrating a drastic turnaround in two seasons coaching Central Florida.
"This is wearing on me, but mostly I just feel bad for them, especially the seniors," he said.
Flynn Nagel set career highs with 220 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and the Wildcats (3-3, 3-1) won for the first time at home after an 0-3 start at Ryan Field.
Things weren't looking good for them trailing 31-21 with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter. But Northwestern kicked a field goal, then drove 99 yards after getting pinned at the 1 with 2:02 left.
The Wildcats were aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty against Carlos Davis that moved the ball from the 1 to the 16, and Thorson finished the drive with a 5-yard TD to J.J. Jefferson with 12 seconds left in regulation.
Nebraska got the first shot in overtime after Northwestern deferred and a low snap in a shotgun formation on fourth-and-1 at the 16 did in the Cornhuskers. Martinez scooped up the loose ball around the 30, heaved it to the end zone from the 37 and got intercepted by JR Pace.
Northwestern moved six yards before Drew Luckenbaugh nailed a 37-yarder on fourth down to give the Wildcats their second straight victory.
"Great character, absolutely terrific character," coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "That's who they are. That's who we recruit. I thought the talk on the boundary the whole game was excellent. But after we got the field goal to cut it to a one-score game, the guys (said), 'We're winning this football game. We're winning the game.' ... To get it done in overtime I just think shows character."
Nebraska's Devine Ozigbo ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Adrian Martinez threw for 251 yards and a TD.
J.D. Spielman caught eight passes for 76 yards and a TD. But Nebraska remained winless since a victory at Purdue last Oct. 28.
"It's frustrating," linebacker Luke Gifford said. "That's for sure. At this point, the rah, rah stuff -- that's got to go. I think we have passed that point."
This one has to sting for the Cornhuskers, who thought they were on the verge of breaking through prior to this game. They were in control, only to let the lead slip away down the stretch.
The Wildcats showed resolve by rallying late. But they continue to struggle in the run game since leading rusher Jeremy Larkin was forced to stop playing because of a spinal issue. They finished with 32 yards rushing, after being held to a combined 36 over the previous two games.
Nebraska is set to host Minnesota on Saturday, while Northwestern will visit Rutgers.
Sports on 10/14/2018