Northwestern Storms Back, Tops Nebraska in Overtime, 34-31

10/13/2018 2:41:00 PM | Football

Box Score PDF Box Score Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes Photo Gallery WATCH: Fitzgerald Presser WATCH: Highlights WATCH: Student-Athlete Presser

EVANSTON, Ill. – Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson and senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel posted career numbers in Northwestern's come-from-behind overtime, 34-31, victory over Nebraska (0-6, 0-4 Big Ten) at Homecoming at Ryan Field on Saturday afternoon to give the 'Cats (3-3, 3-1 Big Ten) their second-straight overtime win over the Cornhuskers.

» BEHIND THE LENS

Thorson finished the game with a bevy of career highs, including 41 completions, 64 attempts, and 455 passing yards. He tied his career high with three passing touchdowns.

Nagel finished the day with a team-leading 12 receptions for 220 yards, — the third-highest single-game receiving total in program history and the most since 1980. He now has a completion in 24-straight games.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore defensive lineman Samdup Miller recorded a career high and team-leading tackles 14 tackles, including six solo. Four other NU players recorded 10 or more tackles, including sophomore linebackers Blake Gallagher, Chris Bergin, and Paddy Fisher and junior defensive back Trae Williams.

Sophomore defensive back JR Pace recorded two interceptions — the fourth and fifth of his career — when he picked off Adrian Martinez's pass in the endzone in the third and again in overtime.

Sophomore placekicker Drew Luckenbaugh — making his first collegiate start in place of the injured Charlie Kuhbander — drilled a 37-yard field goal in overtime to deliver the Northwestern victory.

Nebraska opened the scoring on the first drive of the game as Martinez completed a 42-yard pass to JD Spielman at 13:32 in the first quarter to put the Cornhuskers up, 7-0, completing a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

Both teams would remain scoreless to close out the first quarter.

Northwestern got on the board at 7:41 in the second quarter when a pair of 17-yard passes from Thorson to Nagel and first-year JJ Jefferson gave the Wildcats the ball on the Nebraska 34-yard line. A handful of plays later, Thorson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Nagel down the sideline to tie the score at seven.

With the ball on the Nebraska 16-yard line, Martinez was sacked by junior defensive back Trae Williams who forced his second career fumble. Sophomore defensive end Earnest Brown IV collected his first collegiate fumble recovery and rushed for a 16-yard return at 3:01 in the first half to give the 'Cats a 14-7 advantage.

Nebraska responded on the following possession when Devine Ozigbo rushed for a 12-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left in the first half to cap off an eight-play, 83-yard scoring drive. Barret Pickering missed the extra point, making the score 14-13 heading into the locker room.

Antonio Reed intercepted Thorson's pass at the Nebraska three-yard line to give the Cornhuskers the ball to open the second half. A series of rushes by Martinez and Ozigbo propelled Nebraska down the field. Ozigbo rushed for a two-yard touchdown to complete a 15-play, 97-yard scoring drive at 7:07 in the third quarter to give the Cornhuskers a 20-14 lead.

Nebraska extended its lead 14 points when Maurice Washington rushed for a three-yard touchdown at 13:40 to open the fourth quarter, completing a five-play, 76-yard scoring drive that included a 21-yard rush by Ozigbo. Martinez successfully rushed for the two-point conversion to make it 28-14.

On Northwestern's following possession, following a pair of seven-yard rushes by Thorson to give the 'Cats the ball on their own 39-yard line, Thorson completed a pass to Nagel who split two defenders to complete a career-long 61-yard touchdown and pull the Wildcats within seven.

With just under 11 minutes to play in the game, Tre Neal intercepted Thorson's pass at the 50-yard line and returned it 14 yards to the Northwestern 36. Pickering completed a nine-play, 19-yard scoring drive with a 34-yard field goal at 5:41 in the fourth quarter, extending Nebraska's lead to 10.

Northwestern responded on the following drive when, on fourth down and 10, Thorson completed a 16-yard pass to Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman to set the 'Cats up on their own 41-yard line. A 14-yard pass to senior running back Chad Hanaoka followed by a 16-yard completion to Nagel gave the Wildcats the ball on the Nebraska 10-yard line. Sophomore kicker Drew Luckenbaugh completed the scoring drive with a 31-yard field goal at 2:27 to make it a one-score game.

The Wildcats tied the game when, after a 32-yard pass from Thorson to Flynn for 32 yards followed by a 27-yard completion to junior wide receiver Bennett Skowronek, gave Northwestern the ball on the Nebraska five-yard line. Thorson threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson to tie the score at 31 with 12 seconds left in the game, forcing overtime.

On Nebraska's first drive in overtime, Pace picked off Martinez's pass in the end zone to give Northwestern the ball on the Cornhuskers' 25-yard line. After a series of rushes by senior wide receiver Solomon Vault and Thorson, Luckenbaugh converted a 37-yard field goal to secure a 34-31 victory for Northwestern.

Chicago's Big Ten team returns to action when they travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m.

••••••

Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!