The ball was never meant for Malachi Coleman, but fate had other plans. Nebraska had called a passing play for their fourth-quarter drive, with Coleman’s role being to draw defenders away. However, his position coach had a different prediction for him. “Garret McGuire told me, ‘It’s going to be open’,” recalled Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule.
Coleman took off so quickly from the line of scrimmage that he had to slow down and wait for quarterback Heinrich Haarberg’s pass to reach him in the end zone. In a game where Nebraska struggled to generate offense, this 44-yard touchdown proved to be a game-changer. Helped by a strong defensive performance, Nebraska celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Memorial Stadium with a 17-9 victory over Northwestern.
“We knew that with someone as fast as Malachi, if we can draw down the defenders and leave him one-on-one, he’s bound to succeed,” said Haarberg.
Nebraska had only managed 38 passing yards prior to this touchdown, but they maintained their aggression even with a one-score lead. And it paid off. However, with 14 minutes left in the game, Northwestern still had a chance for a comeback. That is, if the Nebraska defense had anything to say about it.
“After Coleman scored, we celebrated, but some of the older guys on defense told us that we would have to stop them one or two more times,” said defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher.
And their prediction came true. Northwestern responded with a 66-yard pass play, driving into Nebraska’s territory. However, they were unable to find the end zone and settled for a field goal, making it a one-score game. Nebraska’s defense held strong on two more drives to secure the win. They sacked Northwestern’s quarterback on multiple occasions, limiting their passing game and forcing them into unfavorable situations.
“It was one of the most enjoyable defensive games I’ve played. The entire defense was flying around and having fun today,” Hutmacher said.
Nebraska’s offense had a rough day, starting with Haarberg’s early interceptions. But the Huskers managed to put some points on the board with a field goal and a rushing touchdown from Haarberg. Although it wasn’t a clean performance, redshirt freshman running back Emmett Johnson shone with 73 rushing yards on 12 attempts, showing his versatility in both inside and outside runs.
Injuries also affected Nebraska’s offense, with wide receiver Billy Kemp IV going down and not returning to the game. Offensive lineman Ethan Piper and center Ben Scott also suffered injuries. Losing Kemp was a major setback for the team, as the game plan had revolved around him.
Despite the less than perfect performance, Rhule praised the players who stepped up and made a difference in the game. He emphasized that it took contributions from both the freshmen and the seniors to secure the win.
“While it wasn’t the most beautiful game, it’s a win,” Rhule said.