Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Falls to Northern Iowa Panthers in FCS Upset
Cornhuskers Lose First Game of the Scott Frost Era in Devastating Fashion
In a stunning upset, the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team fell to the Northern Iowa Panthers, an FCS team, in their season opener on Saturday. The loss marks the first time Nebraska has lost to an FCS team since 2008 and is a major blow to the Cornhuskers' hopes of making a bowl game this season.
Key Plays of the Game
The Panthers took an early lead in the game and never looked back. They scored on their first possession of the game on a touchdown pass from quarterback Will McElvain to wide receiver Isaiah Weston. The Cornhuskers responded with a field goal on their next possession, but the Panthers quickly extended their lead to 14-3 with another touchdown pass from McElvain to Weston.
The Cornhuskers managed to score a touchdown late in the first half on a run by running back Anthony Grant, but the Panthers answered with a field goal of their own to take a 17-10 lead into halftime.
The Cornhuskers came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of energy and tied the game early in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from quarterback Casey Thompson to wide receiver Trey Palmer. However, the Panthers quickly regained the lead on a field goal and extended it to 27-17 on a touchdown run by running back Dom Williams.
The Cornhuskers had a chance to tie the game again late in the fourth quarter, but Thompson threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by the Panthers. The Cornhuskers did manage to score a touchdown on their final possession of the game, but it was too little, too late.
What Went Wrong for the Cornhuskers?
There were a number of factors that contributed to the Cornhuskers' loss. First, the Cornhuskers' defense was unable to stop the Panthers' offense. The Panthers converted 10 of their 16 third-down attempts and averaged 5.8 yards per play. The Cornhuskers' offense also struggled, as Thompson threw for only 175 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
The Cornhuskers also made a number of mistakes that cost them the game. They were penalized 10 times for 95 yards and turned the ball over three times. The Panthers, on the other hand, were only penalized twice for 15 yards and did not turn the ball over.
What's Next for the Cornhuskers?
The Cornhuskers will now have to regroup and prepare for their next game against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on September 10th. The Fighting Hawks are also an FCS team, but they are a much weaker opponent than the Panthers. The Cornhuskers should be able to bounce back and earn their first win of the season against North Dakota.
However, the loss to the Panthers is a major setback for the Cornhuskers. It shows that the Cornhuskers are not as good as many people thought they were and that they have a lot of work to do in order to compete for a bowl game this season.
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