Huskers fall flat in 55-45 loss to Purdue

Nebraska's already disastrous 2015 season reached a new low point on Saturday, as the Huskers were outplayed for four quarters in a 55-45 loss to a Purdue team that came into the game with just one victory on the year.

Already without starting quarterback Tommy Armstrong, receiver Alonzo Moore and right tackle Nick Gates, NU also saw star wide out De'Mornay Pierson-El and running back Terrell Newby go down with injuries during the debacle.

With junior walk-on Ryker Fyfe getting his first career start at quarterback, the Huskers couldn't find any rhythm offensively and the defense had arguably its worst showing of the season. That all added up to a blowout loss hardly anyone could have expected and forced NU to have to win its final three regular season games in order to qualify for a bowl game.

Purdue, on the other hand, won just its third FBS game in the past three seasons and picked up its first Big Ten home victory since Nov. 24, 2012.

The game started out OK for Nebraska, as the defense forced a punt on the opening possession then Fyfe led the offense down the first score on a 41-yard field goal by Drew Brown.

That momentum didn't last much longer, though, as the Boilermakers came right back and took the lead with a 56-yard touchdown run by quarterback David Blough. Coming into the game, Blough had rushed for just 75 yards all season.

On Nebraska's ensuing drive, a snap sailed over Fyfe's head and Purdue picked it up and returned it all the way down to the NU 16-yard line. Blough would then hit receiver Danny Anthrop for a three-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-3 with 13:48 left in the second quarter.

Needing to find some sort of momentum, freshman Stanley Morgan provided the spark with a 42-yard kickoff return that started the following drive at midfield. A 22-yard run by Newby moved the ball to ball deep into Boilermaker territory, and then Morgan came up big again on a third-and-eight with a 20-yard touchdown catch down the right sideline.

As the Huskers' luck would have it, though, Pierson-El suffered a gruesome left leg injury during the celebration shortly after the touchdown and was carted off the field. Nebraska then botched the extra point, leaving the deficit at 14-9.

After an ill-advised throw by Fyfe resulted in an interception by Anthony Brown at the Nebraska 22, Purdue added another touchdown to its lead with a four-yard reverse run by Domonique Young to make it 21-9 with just over four minutes left in the half.

Brown picked Fyfe off again with just under a minute left to send Nebraska into halftime down by 12. When all was said and done, the Huskers had committed three turnovers and six penalties and gave up 21 points in two quarters to a Purdue team that had scored only 20 in its previous two games combined.

Some halftime adjustments paid off right away for Nebraska's offense, as a 30-yard pass to running back Devine Ozigbo and then a roughing the passer penalty on Purdue quickly put the Huskers in a first-and-goal from the nine. Senior Imani Cross finished it off from there with a nine-yard touchdown run to make it 21-16.

But once again, Purdue came right back to match it with a touchdown of its own, this time on a third-and-goal pass from Blough to tight end Jordan Jurasevich from five yards out. The score capped a 13-play, 80-yard march that saw five Boilermaker first downs and Blough complete 8-of-10 passes for 68 yards.

It only got worse for NU from there. On Purdue's next drive Blough connected with DeAngelo Yancey for an 83-yard touchdown pass, marking the Boilermakers' longest play since 2012 and pushing the lead up to 35-16.

Fyfe was then picked off by Brown for a third time two plays into Nebraska's ensuing possession, which led to another touchdown pass to Yancey from nine yards out to make it 42-16.

Nebraska reached the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lane Hovey to cut it to 42-23 on the first play of the fourth quarter, and then fullback Andy Janovich barreled in for a one-yard touchdown run a few minutes later. Fyfe would then hit Jordan Westerkamp for a two-point conversion pass that cut the deficit to 42-31 with 11:39 still to play.

That would be as close as the Huskers would get, however. Purdue put the game away after picking off Fyfe for the fourth time of the day and then scoring on an eight-yard touchdown run by Markell Jones to make it 48-31 with 5:51 remaining.

Fyfe found Brandon Reilly for a touchdown pass with 3:27 left and then hit Westerkamp for another scoring toss with 30 seconds to go, but all that did was pad the final stat sheet.

The Huskers return to action next week when they play host to Michigan State for a 7 p.m. kick on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

Click Here to view this Link.