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Huskers fall in final seconds to Illinois, 14-13

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Having already suffered a Hail Mary loss and an overtime defeat through the first two games, it seemed hard for Nebraska to come up with another way to endure a gut-wrenching loss.
Yet the Huskers were able to do just that against Illinois on Saturday.
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Leading by six with less than a minute to play, NU (2-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten) allowed the Illini to march 73 yards with no timeouts and score the go-ahead touchdown with just 10 seconds left on the clock to send the Huskers home with a 14-13 defeat.
Nebraska was either tied or led for 59 minutes, 50 seconds, but once again couldn't come up with the clutch plays it needed on either side of the ball and allowed Illinois to hang around for far too long.
Both offenses sputtered early on to open the game, as Nebraska failed to convert a single first down in the first quarter and Illinois couldn't capitalize on some golden opportunities. The Huskers' offense was lifeless through the first 15 minutes, gaining just 23 total yards on nine plays.
Illinois on the other hand got the first big break of the day when De'Mornay Pierson-El muffed his first punt return of the season and the Illini recovered at the NU 39. However, the Blackshirts were able to hold firm once again, and kicker Taylor Zalewski shanked a 51-yard field goal attempt.
On Illinois' ensuing drive, running back Josh Ferguson ripped off a 48-yard run deep into Nebraska territory, and the Illini were able to move the ball down to the Huskers' 10. Facing a fourth-and-one from the 10, backup quarterback Chayce Crouch was stuffed for a loss by linebacker Chris Weber for a turnover on downs.
After another quick NU three and out, Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt found receiver Geronimo Allison for a 26-yard gain. But defensive tackle Maliek Collins blew up a run for an eight-yard loss to help force another field goal attempt from 41 yards. Once again, Zalewski missed wide right to keep the score at 0-0 going into the second quarter.
Nebraska finally got its offense going on its ensuing drive when quarterback Tommy Armstrong provided a spark with a 32-yard scramble into IU territory. A personal foul penalty on Illinois two plays later moved the ball down to the 19, and freshman running back Devine Ozigbo took it from there with a sweep around the right end for a touchdown to put the Huskers up 7-0 with 12:35 left in the half.
A combined five straight punts after that took the clock down inside of four minutes, and facing a third and five at its own 25, Nebraska needed a big play to keep from giving Illinois a chance to score before halftime. Armstrong rolled right and heaved the ball 55 yards to tight end Cethan Carter - which marked NU's longest gain of the season so far - to set up a first down at the UI 20.
With 11 seconds left on the clock, kicker Drew Brown capitalized on the play by drilling a 39-yard field goal that put the Huskers up 10-0. In an effort to avoid kicking into the wind and allowing a return on the kickoff, Nebraska opted to squib the ball and allowed the Illini to recover at the own 40 with nine seconds left.
Illinois called a basic draw play to running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn, but Vaughn broke loose down the right sideline and was finally brought down at the NU 12 by none other than Collins, keeping the halftime score at 10-0.
The third quarter got off to an inconspicuous start when the officials lost track of downs and Illinois ended up going for it on fourth and three - whether they realized it or not - and came up one yard short after an extensive replay review. All that chaos ended up working itself out, though, as Armstrong was intercepted on the ensuing drive to give Illinois the ball back at its 33.
Later in the third, a Sam Foltz punt was downed by Chris Jones at the Illinois one-yard line, and the Illini quickly went three and out and gave NU the ball back at the Illini 31. That led to a 28-yard field goal by Brown to push the lead up to 13-0 with 2:55 to go in the third quarter.
By not reaching the end zone and letting Illinois stay within reach, though, the Illini were finally able to break the shutout and keep things interesting. After driving inside the NU 30, Lunt found a wide open Marchie Murdock for a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead down to 13-7 with 13:21 still to play.
The teams traded punts until Ozigbo broke loose with a 31-yard run around the right end to start Nebraska's drive with just over seven minutes to play. But Nebraska stalled out after that and Armstrong was sacked for a 15-yard loss at midfield to force another Foltz punt.
Nebraska's defense held firm and got the ball back with a three and out, and the Huskers turned to Ozigbo and Janovich to grind the clock down and pick up some key first downs as the final minutes ticked away. Facing a third down and seven with under a minute to play, Ozigbo couldn't hang on to an Armstrong pass and set up a fourth down. Another pass by Armstrong fell incomplete, giving Illinois the ball with at its 27-yard line with 55 seconds remaining.
Needing to go 77 yards with no timeouts, Lunt hit Malik Turner on a 50-yard pass down to the NU seven. On the very next play, Lunt found Geronimo Allison for what appeared to be a touchdown, but Allison's foot was out of bounds for an incomplete pass.
Cornerback Joshua Kalu was flagged for pass interference in the end zone on the ensuing play, giving UI first and goal at the two-yard line with 23 seconds left. Two incomplete passes after that set up third down with 18 seconds left, and cornerback Chris Jones was called for pass interference to give Illinois first and goal at the one with 15 seconds to go.
From there, Lunt found Allison in the front corner of the end zone for the tying touchdown with 10 seconds on the clock. Zalewski booted the extra point through the uprights to put the Illini up for good at 14-13.
The Huskers will look to bounce back next week when they play host to Wisconsin next Saturday.
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