Huskers Work Past Wildcats

Lincoln - Emmett Johnson rushed for 124 yards and two scores including the game-winning touchdown with 2:44 left to power the Nebraska football team to a 28-21 victory over Northwestern on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

Johnson's final touchdown was set up by a 13-play drive orchestrated by sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola, which included four consecutive third-down passes completions. Raiola, who finished 16-of-22 for 141 yards and one touchdown passing on the day, went 5-of-7 for 47 yards on the game-winning drive to push Nebraska to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. Northwestern slipped to 5-3 and 3-2 in the conference, as the Huskers snapped the Wildcats' four-game winning streak.

The Big Red's decisive score was set up by a huge defensive play from Javin Wright, who pulled in an interception of Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone deep inside Husker terriotry to set the stage for the game-winning march. Wright and the defense then made the touchdown hold up by stopping the Wildcats on downs in Nebraska territory in the final two minutes. 

Northwestern tied the game at 21 on Caleb Komolafe's 54-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 4 to set up Stone's two-point conversion pass to Hayden Eligon II. It was Komolafe's second touchdown run of the game, joining his four-yard burst with 2:25 left in the third quarter to cut the Nebraska lead to 21-13. Komolafe ended the day with 125 rushing yards on 17 carries to lead the Wildcats.

Nebraska, which led 7-6 at halftime, exploded out of the locker room with a Kenneth Williams 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The second kickoff return for Williams of more than 85 yards this season gave the Big Red its first kickoff return touchdown since Sept. 2, 2017 when JD Spielman uncorked a return against Arkansas State. It also gave Nebraska a 14-6 lead just 13 seconds into the second half.

Midway through the third quarter, the Blackshirts got their first interception on the day to set the offense up with a short field. Donovan Jones hauled in the first interception of his career on a deflected pass. His diving interception gave Raiola and the offense the ball at the Northwestern 32. Less than a minute later, Raiola converted the turnover to points with his 12-yard touchdown pass to Nyziah Hunter on a spectacular diving play at the edge of the end zone. 

Hunter led the Huskers with six receptions for 70 yards on the day and gave Nebraska a 21-6 lead with 7:39 left in the third period, before Northwestern rallied.

Rex Guthrie led the Blackshirts with eight total tackles, while Jones added seven stops along with his interception. Vincent Shaver Jr. pitched in six tackles, while Ceyair Wright contributed four tackles and a pass breakup among a long list of contributors on defense.

Johnson powered the Husker offense in the first half with 65 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, including a nine-yard touchdown run to cap Nebraska's opening drive to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Johnson had six carries for 38 yards on Nebraska's 69-yard scoring drive.

Isaiah Mozee added two carries for 24 yards in the opening half as the Huskers managed 93 rushing yards on 20 carries. Raiola added 67 yards on 7-of-10 passing, as the Huskers managed 160 total yards in the first 30 minutes.

Northwestern countered with a pair of first-half field goals by Jack Olsen to narrow Nebraska's margin to 7-6 at the half. The Wildcats fought for 137 total yards in the half, including 69 yards on 7-of-13 passing by Stone and 68 yards on 16 carries. Komolafe led the Northwestern ground game with 51 yards on nine attempts in the half.

Nebraska returns to Big Ten home action next week when the Huskers play host to USC. Kickoff with the Trojans is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at Memorial Stadium with live national television coverage by NBC.

Game Summary
Nebraska 28
Northwestern 21
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.) 
Attendance: 86,401

First Quarter (NEB 7-3)
7:49 - NEB - Emmett Johnson 9 run (Kyle Cunanan kick), 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:02 - NEB 7-0
3:28 - NU - Jack Olsen 40 FG, 9 plays, 53 yards, 4:21 - NEB 7-0

Second Quarter (NEB 7-6)
3:01 - NU - Olsen 25 FG, 15 plays, 67 yards, 4:43 - NEB 7-6

Third Quarter (NEB 21-13)
14:47 - NEB - Kenneth Williams 95 kickoff return (Cunanan kick) - NEB 14-6
7:39 - NEB - Nyziah Hunter 12 pass from Dylan Raiola (Cunanan kick), 3 plays, 32 yards, 0:58 - NEB 21-6
2:25 - NU - Caleb Komolafe 4 run (Olsen kick), 9 plays, 78 yards, 5:08 - NEB 21-13

Fourth Quarter (NEB 28-21)
11:16 - NU - Komolafe 56 run (2PAT pass good), 4 plays, 80, 2:13 - 21-21
2:44 - NEB - Johnson 4 run (Cunanan kick), 13 plays, 64 yards, 6:27 - NEB 28-21

End of Game: 2:21 p.m. (CT)
Length of Game: 3:18
 
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