• Huskers fall 28-25
• Blackshirts are back after 24-3 win over Michigan State
• Nebraska rolls by Minnesota and eyes Michigan State next
• Second half pushes Nebraska past Ohio State
• Thoughts after loss in Madison
• Nebraska heads into Big10 play 4-0
• Huskers improve to 2-0
• Huskers open up with 40-7 win
• Bubba Starling signs with the Royals
• Nebraska and Iowa to play in the “The Heroes Game”
• New Nebraska Football Gloves from Adidas
• Seven Huskers picked in 2011 NFL Draft
• Nebraska and Wisconsin set to play under the lights
• Memorial Stadium Expansion Update
• Bo finally speaks about coaching staff

It wasn’t what Nebraska fans had expected on Saturday as Nebraska struggled against Ball State in a 41-40 victory.  Thanks to Sam Keller and the offense, the Huskers improved 3-1 on the season.  Should they have won though?  Probably not but some teams have to get lucky at some point.

I’ll start off a good note and that was the offense.  Sam Keller and company were scoring on almost every possession.  Keller finished the day with completing 29-of-37 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns.  A big play of the game came in the 3rd quarter when Keller connected with Sean Hill on a 73 yard pass.  Keller also connected with Maurice Purify on the final drive of the game to give the Huskers win.  Keller looked great 90% of the time yesterday and the receivers were all catching the ball instead of dropping them.  A+ for the passing game!

Marlon Lucky, Quentin Castille, and Roy Helu all carried the ball the Huskers.  Lucky led all the running backs with  21 carries and 102 yards.  Lucky also caught 11 passes for another 81 yards.  Castille caught a nice swing pass and then ran it in for a yard out in second quarter.  Helu was the suprise as he got quite a bit of playing time as Cody Gleen sat out the game.  Helu is a quick back that finds the hole and gets to it quick.  He needs to add some weight but he will be pretty good down the road.

Now for the bad part of the game.. The Blackshirts or I think we should start calling them the pinkshirts.  What a disgrace the way the defense is playing right now.  Ball State ran and passed all over the defense and should have put up more points but four dropped balls really hurt them.

I did like the fact that Ricky Thenarse and Phillip Dillard played more, and they need to continue to get more snaps every day.  Tierre Green, Bo Rudd, and Corey McKeon all sucked once again, and only Rudd had one good play on the interception and td.

Nate Davis is a hell of a quarterback, but the Husker defense made him look like a first team all american all day long.  If Cosgrove doesn’t start making some adjustments during the game, it is going to be a long season for the defense.

In the end I’m happy with a win and that is what really matters, but it doesn’t really feel like a Nebraska win.  It was ugly, and one of the worst performances by the defense in a very long time.

First Quarter (Nebraska 7, Ball State 0)
NU - Marlon Lucky 28 run (Alex Henery kick), 4:43

Second Quarter (Nebraska 14, Ball State 10)
BSU - Darius Hill 20 pass from Nate Davis (Jake Hogue kick), 2:58
BSU - Hogue 45 field goal, 3:40
NU - Quentin Castille 1 run (Henery kick), 4:10

Third Quarter (Ball State 31, Nebraska 28)
BSU - Davis 14 run (Hogue kick), 0:59, 3-39
NU - Sean Hill 73 pass from Sam Keller (Henery kick), 1:22
BSU - MiQuale Lewis 43 run (Hogue kick), 1:44
NU - Nate Swift 18 pass from Keller (Henery kick), 2:40
BSU - Love 58 pass from Davis (Hogue kick), 1:15

Fourth Quarter (Nebraska 41, Ball State 40)
BSU - Madaris Grant 21 pass from Davis (kick failed), 1:29
NU - Bo Ruud 34 interception return (Henery kick)
BSU - Hogue 22 field goal, 2:10
NU - Maurice Purify 11 pass from Keller (two-point conversion failed), 3:45

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