LINCOLN, Neb. – HCU got an 82-yard rushing game out of redshirt freshman
Xai'Shaun Edwards but fell, 59-7, to Big Ten member Nebraska on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.
The Cornhuskers (3-0) took the opening kickoff and drove the ball downfield to the HCU (1-2) six-yard line before the Huskies' defense held and forced a field goal. The Huskies were unable to get much going offensively in the first quarter, falling behind 17-0 after the first 15 minutes.
Late in the second quarter, HCU was able to string together a nine-play drive but it stalled out and ended in a punt. The Huskies went into the locker at the half trailing, 38-0.
After a three-and-out to start the second half, Nebraska marched 78 yards on eight plays to score a touchdown and push the lead to 45-0. ON the next HCU drive, the Huskies converted on a third-and-four with a completion from
Jake Weir to
Deuce McMillan for a nine-yard game with an extra 15-yard personal foul penalty assessed against the Cornhuskers. On the next play, from the Nebraska 45-yard line,
Xai'Shaun Edwards carried the ball to the right, shedding a tackle before reversing course back to the left and racing untouched to the end zone for his fifth rushing score of the season.
The Huskers scored twice more following the Edwards touchdown for the 59-7 final with HCU making a fourth-and-goal stop at the HCU two-yard line with 6;18 left to play.
Edwards ended the day with 82 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries while
Darryle Evans added 39 yards on 14 carries. Weir finished the day completing 11-of-18 passes for 67 yards with
Ja'Ryan Wallace leading all receivers with 31 yards on five catches.
Defensively,
Xavier Toliver paced the Husky defense with seven tackles.
Jayven Anderson,
Rodney Dansby and
Norey Johnson each had five tackles with Dansby also adding a pass breakup.
HCU returns home to finish out non-conference play next Saturday, Sept. 20, with a 6:00 p.m. matchup against Northern Colorado at Husky Stadium.
