Post-game nuggets from Nebraska's win over Maryland

Here are some quick notes to pass along from Nebraska’s post-game press conference following its 28-7 win over Maryland on Saturday afternoon…

***Head coach Mike Riley said this game was a little different from what they’re used to, as the Huskers lead the entire game. While it “got a little sloppy at the end”, Riley said he was very happy with how his team performed on both sides of the ball.

***Riley said he “always knew Ryker (Fyfe) was a good quarterback,” adding that Fyfe “has some special qualities when it comes to quarterbacking.” Riley said he loves Fyfe’s quiet confidence.

“He won’t, we won’t, and Grand Island won’t ever forget this game,” Riley said.

***Riley said they knew Tommy Armstrong (hamstring) would be out on Thursday but decided to “keep it quiet” so Maryland would have to prepare for both quarterbacks. Riley said he was “optimistic” they would get Armstrong back next week, “but I’m not sure.”

***Riley said he expects Fyfe to get the No. 1 reps in practice to open next week.

***Riley said he did think about the fact that Nebraska would be turning to Sam Foltz’s high school quarterback in Fyfe to lead the way on Senior Day. Riley said he knew Foltz would be so proud of Fyfe today.

***Riley was asked about the latest round of special teams issues on Saturday, and while he didn’t really go into much detail on all that went wrong, he did say, “For whatever reason today we didn’t transition very well.”

***Jordan Westerkamp said he had to hold back tears during the Senior Day introductions. He said he has so many memories of his time at Nebraska, and it was great to go out on such a high note. Westerkamp said he had close to 100 family and friends at the game.

***Riley said defensive backs coach Brian Stewart’s knowledge of Maryland’s personnel was a big help in getting the team prepared for a lot of what the Terps did, especially for the defense.

***Riley said kicker Drew Brown “got dinged” while making a tackle on the opening kickoff, which forced him to sit out the rest of the game. Riley said Brown would go through concussion protocol next week.

***Senior linebacker Josh Banderas was asked how important next week's regular-season finale at Iowa was for this season. "That games means everything," Banderas said. Banderas said to beat Iowa at home and get to 10 wins would be absolutely huge for this team.

***Fyfe said he was told last Sunday that he would be the starter vs. Maryland. He said he practiced the entire week as if he would be the No. 1.

***Fyfe said this game was definitely bittersweet for him personally. While it was great to play the way he did and win, this was also supposed to be Senior Day for both him and his longtime friend, Sam Foltz.

***Fyfe said he may have sprained his hand during the game, but said he would be fine and that the injury would not impact him going forward.

***Nebraska honored 29 members of the 2016 senior class before today’s kickoff. The group included 28 active members of the roster, as well as Sam Foltz.

***Nebraska’s victory improved the Huskers to 9-2 on the season, marking the 50th nine-win season in school history and the 47th since 1962.

***With its nine regular-season wins in 2016, Nebraska has improved its regular-season win total by four games after a 5-7 regular-season record in 2015.

***This marks just the sixth time in school history Nebraska has improved by four or more regular season wins from one year to the next. It is Nebraska’s best regular-season win improvement since jumping from a 3-6-1 record in 1961 to an 8-2 regular-season record and 9-2 overall mark in 1962.

***Nebraska finished with a perfect 7-0 home record at Memorial Stadium in 2016. The perfect home record is Nebraska’s first unbeaten home season since a 7-0 record in 2012, and just the second unbeaten home season since 2001. It is the 42nd unbeaten and untied home season in school history.

***Senior quarterback Ryker Fyfe made his second career start in today’s game. Fyfe completed 23-of-37 passes for 220 yards and one touchdown. Fyfe was 14-of-20 for 153 yards and one touchdown before halftime.

***Fyfe’s start marks just the fourth game since Sept. of 2013 (South Dakota State) that Tommy Armstrong Jr. did not start.

***Fyfe notched a career-long 21-yard rush in the second quarter.

***The Husker victory is the first win by Nebraska started by a quarterback other than Tommy Armstrong or Taylor Martinez since a 2010 win over Colorado when Cody Green started at quarterback.

***Senior receiver Jordan Westerkamp caught season-high eight passes for 85 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter for the 18th touchdown catch of his career, and his fifth of 2016.

***Westerkamp has caught at least one pass in 35 straight games, two shy of Johnny Rodgers’ school record.· Westerkamp’s eight receptions were a season-high, bettering his six receptions against Minnesota last week.

***Westerkamp increased his career receptions total to 163, moving him within three receptions of Nate Swift for No. 2 on the Nebraska career receptions list (166).· Westerkamp increased his career receiving yardage total to 2,424, moving him within 52 yards of third place and 55 yards of second place on the NU career receiving yardage list.

***Senior linebacker Josh Banderas made team-high nine tackles, giving him 80 on the year. Banderas has made at least eight tackles in each of the past six games.· Banderas moved his career tackles total to 219, moving him up to 26th on the Nebraska career tackles list.

***Senior I-back Terrell Newby rushed for 98 yards on 22 carries and a career-high three rushing touchdowns. Newby also had three touchdowns last season against South Alabama, two by rush and one by reception.

***Newby now has 825 yards rushing on the season and is 175 yards shy of posting a 1,000-yard season. Newby increased his career rushing total to 2,185, moving him up three spots to 25th on the NU career rushing list.

***Nebraska held the ball for more than 35:00 for the fourth time this season, possessing the ball for a season-high 38:58 in today’s game. The previous high was 38:01 vs. Illinois.· Nebraska has won the time of possession battle in nine of 11 games this season.

***Nebraska allowed 207 total yards, including a combined one yard in the second and third quarters. The 207 yards allowed are a season low, bettering NU’s performance against Minnesota when it held the Gophers to 265 yards. It’s the fewest yards allowed by Nebraska’s defense against a conference opponent since allowing 175 yards at Michigan in 2013.

***Nebraska did not commit a turnover in today’s game, marking the second straight game without a turnover. This marks the first time Nebraska has had consecutive games without a turnover since the final two games of 2003 against Colorado and Michigan State.

***Sophomore defensive end Freedom Akinmoladun had two sacks for 15 yards, tying his career high (also 2 sacks vs. Southern Miss, 2015). Akinmoladun matched a season high with five total tackles in the game.

***The Nebraska defense registered a season-high five sacks, bettering its four sacks against both Northwestern and Fresno State.

***Nebraska’s 14 points in the first quarter are its most since opening a 17-0 lead after one quarter at Indiana. The 14 points are the second most Nebraska has scored in the first quarter this season.

***Nebraska held Maryland scoreless in the first half, marking the first time Nebraska has held an opponent scoreless in the first half in 2016. Nebraska allowed seven points in today’s game, its fewest in a conference game since allowing seven in a 44-7 win at Purdue in 2013.

***Senior safety Nathan Gerry had four tackles, giving him 267 career tackles and moving him within nine tackles of the top five on the NU career list. Gerry is also 20 tackles from the school record for defensive backs, held by Mike Brown who had 287 tackles from 1996 to 1999.