By Jasper Scherer
Northwestern Athletic Communications
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Despite two lengthy touchdown drives, another explosive performance from freshman running back Justin Jackson and a strong defensive effort for three quarters, Northwestern dropped a 38-17 decision to Nebraska on Saturday at Ryan Field.
Jackson, fresh off a performance against Minnesota that earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, picked up 128 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, his third straight game over the century mark. Quarterback Trevor Siemian completed 18 passes to eight different receivers, and junior safety Traveon Henry recorded a team-leading 12 tackles on the defensive side.
After Northwestern held the Cornhuskers off the board on the first drive of the game, the 'Cats took over at their own 11-yard line. On the ensuing 89-yard touchdown drive, Siemian completed five of his seven pass attempts, including two each to senior receiver Kyle Prater and junior superback Dan Vitale. Jackson finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown, his third rushing score of the year.
The Huskers responded with a lengthy drive of their own, going 47 yards to the Northwestern 22-yard line. Kicker Drew Brown's 39-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right, however, and the 'Cats took over with their seven-point lead still intact. The miss marked only the fifth time since the start of the 2007 season that a Husker kicker missed a field goal under 40 yards.
Nebraska needed only seven plays to go 80 yards for the tying touchdown five minutes into the second quarter. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. rushed 17 yards on a keeper to set up Ameer Abdullah's one-yard touchdown run.
After the score, the two teams combined for four straight three-and-outs before Northwestern converted on its second scoring drive of the game to reclaim the lead. Starting from their own 17-yard line, the 'Cats marched downfield behind a few lengthy runs from Jackson and completions from Siemian to Stephen Buckley and Miles Shuler.
On the drive, Jackson carried the ball three times for 34 yards before a roughing the passer penalty brought Northwestern to the five-yard line. From there, Jackson received the handoff, juked his way forward and spun off a tackle attempt for his second score of the game.
The Huskers wasted no time responding, using 38 seconds to tie the game with their second touchdown. From 11 yards out, Abdullah received the handoff from Armstrong, then gave the ball to Pierson-El as he came around the edge on a reverse play. Pierson-El went to the air to find Armstrong, who caught his first career pass for a touchdown to cap a three-play, 73-yard drive.
With 1:14 remaining in the half, Northwestern began the following drive at their 34-yard line, picking up a pair of 15-yard gains on a pass interference penalty and Cameron Dickerson's first catch of the game two plays later. Siemian then threw a strike to Treyvon Green on a post route to put Northwestern 13 yards out, and kicker Jack Mitchell nailed a 29-yard field goal to give the 'Cats a 17-14 lead at halftime.
Nebraska struck first after the break on Abdullah's second one-yard touchdown of the game with 4:27 left in the third quarter. The senior back then broke free for a 50-yard rush down to the one-yard line on the following drive, setting up his third one-yard score of the game, before taking it in for a fourth time to give Nebraska a 35-17 edge it wouldn't relinquish. The Huskers tacked on another field goal, putting the final score at 38-17.
Northwestern enters its second and final bye week of the season before preparing for another Big Ten West contest at Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 1.
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