Casey Thompson guides Nebraska’s comeback at Rutgers
Casey Thompson threw two second-half touchdown passes and Nebraska rallied from down 13 at the half to beat Rutgers 14-13 in a Big Ten Conference game on Friday night in Piscataway, N.J.
Thompson’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Trey Palmer with 8:54 left was the game-winner. The score came one play after Myles Farmer intercepted Rutgers quarterback Evan Simon, who was picked off three times in the second half.
After throwing two interceptions in the first half, Thompson finished with 232 yards on 24-of-36 passing to help Nebraska (3-3, 2-1 Big Ten) snap a 10-game skid in one-score games.
Down 13-0 at the half, Nebraska got on the board with a 7-yard touchdown catch by tight end Travis Vokolek, who began his career at Rutgers. The Cornhuskers converted a fourth-and-2 from the Rutgers 26 earlier in the drive.
The Nebraska defense held Rutgers (3-3, 0-3) to 85 yards in the second half after allowing 263 in the opening half. The Scarlet Knights had one last chance, getting the ball at their own 20-yard line with 1:03 to go, but Simon was intercepted by Malcolm Hartzog near midfield three plays later.
Rutgers scored on its opening possession for the third consecutive game, with quarterback Noah Vedral running for a 21-yard touchdown. Vedral, who played for Nebraska in 2018 and ’19, had 160 yards of total offense but connected on just 6 of 15 passes.
Simon was 6 of 15 for 100 yards and three interceptions.
A blocked punt by the Scarlet Knights’ Max Melton set up a Jude McAtamney 25-yard field goal late in the first quarter, putting Rutgers up 10-0. McAtamney added a 40-yard field goal midway through the second quarter for a 13-0 edge.
Melton also had one of Rutgers’ two interceptions in the first half.
Nebraska snapped a six-game losing streak in road or neutral-site games, temporarily moving into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten’s West Division. Rutgers absorbed its 21st consecutive home loss in conference play.
The Cornhuskers remain on the road when they visit Purdue on Oct. 15, while Rutgers has a bye before hosting Indiana on Oct. 22.
–Field Level Media
