On a hot and windy day, the October Homecoming in Nebraska looks more like early August. The temperature was 97 degrees at kickoff and the wind regularly blew over 20 miles per hour.

As for the play on the field, neither team came out of the gate swinging.

Nebraska took a 4th-and-1 deep in its own territory before turning conservative later and ultimately opting to punt. Rutgers blocked that kick. On the ensuing possession, with a running back picking up eight yards per carry, the Scarlet Knights lined up for a 42-yard field goal, opting to fake it and have the holder try for four yards. He didn’t.

The Huskers would strike first on the next possession. On the seventh play of a 75-yard drive, Dante Dowdell ran in the one-yard score on fourth down.

The teams then traded punts, Rutgers missed a 52-yard field goal from the upright, and then an exchange of interceptions left NU with the ball alone at 28. Seven plays later, Janiran Bonner trotted into the end zone, giving the Big Rood a 14 -0 lead.

Rutgers had a chance to score before halftime, but Ceyar Wright eliminated Athan Kaliakmanis in midfield.

On the final possession of the half, Nebraska got inside the Rutgers 40-yard line but stalled and elected to punt as time expired at the half.

Rutgers got inside the Nebraska 40-yard line on its first four possessions but scored no points.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 11 of 18 passes for 120 yards. The Huskers rushed for 97 yards, led by 40 yards from Dowdell.

Kaliakmanis threw for 73 yards and completed 6 of 15 passes. Kyle Monangai had 64 yards on eight carries in the first quarter. He had just two touches in the second quarter, for a total of one yard.

Rutgers gets the ball to start the second half.

Nebraska athletics notes

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