Nebraska Overcomes Hostile Happy Valley Crowd - BionicBeard52's Dynasty

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Nebraska Overcomes Hostile Happy Valley Crowd

Posted on August 20, 2013 at 07:09 PM.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers at Penn State Nittany Lions
Oct 11, 2014	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
#3 Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-0)(2-0)	9	17	3	6	-	35
Penn State Nittany Lions (2-4)(0-3)	0	10	7	13	-	30

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Penn State Nittany Lions

After last week's thrilling win over Rutgers, Nebraska's coaching staff knew this weekend's game would be an even tougher challenge. Although Penn State came into the game 2-3(0-2), the Nittany Lions featured one of the best young QB's in the nation in sophomore Christian Hackenberg.

Nebraska's young QB started off the game on a hot streak connecting on 4 straight passes including a 6 yd TD pass to senior WR Taariq Allen. A field goal near the end of the first quarter and the Cornhuskers would lead 9-0.

Two big plays would highlight the game for Nebraska in the 2nd quarter. Up 9-7 after a Penn State scoring drive, QB Tommy Armstrong Jr connected with All-American WR Kenny Bell on a beautiful deep pass over the middle as Bell raced 80 yards for the touchdown to put the Huskers up 16-7. Later in the quarter Nebraska forced a 3 and out and set up to punt with the score 16-10 in favor of the Huskers. A deep punt to Taariq Allen who returned it 84 yards for the TD, his second TD of the game. Going into the break Nebraska led Penn State 26-10.

Another TD in the 3rd and Nebraska's lead was cut down to 29-17 as we entered the final stanza. Hackenberg would not let the Nittany Lions quit as he led Penn State down the field where on 3rd and goal from the 3 he sensed pressure and scrambled to the corner pylon and dived for the TD to make 29-24. Junior kicker Mauro Bondi redeemed himself after last week's 2-4 showing by connecting on 5 field goals including one from 52 yards to put the game just enough out of reach for Penn State. The Nittany Lions would make things interesting however as they were able to score again but Hackenberg missed a wide-open receiver in the back of the endzone to fail the 2-point conversion.

Still 32-30 late in the 4th, the Huskers had a chance to ice the game but were unable to get a first down on 3rd and 2 and were forced to kick a field goal and make it 35-30 with 39 seconds left. First play of the drive Hackenberg connected on a 35 yd pass to get the ball inside the 40 but that would be the closest Penn State would get as Hackenberg threw 4 straight in completions and turned the ball over on downs ending the game.

A thrilling win for Nebraska indeed as they improve to 5-0(2-0) and elsewhere in the Big Ten a stunning upset as previously undefeated Illinois shocks the #2 Buckeyes at the Horseshoe 27-24 in overtime to give the Braxton Miller and Ohio State their first loss of the season. In what was supposed to be a battle of undefeated, Ohio State comes into Lincoln in a game that maybe a preview of the Big Ten Championship.