(Photo and Story provided by NU Athletic Communications)
The Nebraska defense held Michigan State without a first down in second-half regulation, but the Huskers fell 23-20 in overtime at No. 20 Michigan State on Saturday night at Spartan Stadium.
The Blackshirts shut out the Spartans in the first and third quarters, and the only MSU score in the fourth quarter came on a 62-yard Jayden Reed punt return touchdown that tied the game at 20. At the time, the defense had held Michigan State (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) to five total yards of offense in the second half.
The punt return touchdown and ensuing extra point were enough to send the game to overtime after Nebraska had held a 20-13 fourth-quarter lead and the ball with four minutes remaining in the game.
Adrian Martinez, who completed 24-of-34 passes for 248 yards in the game and rushed 20 times for 65 yards including both of Nebraska’s scores, threw a third-down interception on NU’s opening possession of overtime. MSU defensive back Chester Kimbrough returned the pick 62 yards, before Martinez made a desperate sliding tackle attempt in front of three Spartans that allowed center Cam Jurgens to chase down Kimbrough.
The Blackshirts gave up their only first down after halftime on Kenneth Walker III’s 23-yard run to the NU 2 on MSU’s first offensive play after the interception. But the defense backed Walker and the Spartans up one yard on the next two plays before Matt Coghlin kicked a 21-yard game-winning field goal. It was Coghlin’s third field goal of less than 30 yards in the game. Walker, one of the nation’s leading rushers, was held to just 39 yards on 16 carries in regulation by the Blackshirts.
Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Saturday to take on Northwestern. The Homecoming game for the Big Red is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. with the broadcast on Mix 105.5, FM with the Huskers Radio Network.
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