Nebraska Post-Game Notes
Nebraska vs. Rutgers, Oct. 25, 2014
- Nebraska improved to 7-1 on the season and 3-1 in Big Ten Conference play. The 7-1 record marks the Huskers’ first 7-1 record through eight games since 2011. Nebraska is 3-1 in conference play for the fifth straight season. Nebraska improved to 5-0 at home this season and has won 11 of 14 Big Ten home games since joining the conference in 2011.
- Nebraska senior I-back Ameer Abdullah rushed 19 times for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Abdullah’s 225 rushing yards marked his fourth 200-yard rushing game of the season (Florida Atlantic, Miami, Illinois, Rutgers) all at Memorial Stadium. His four 200-yard rushing games this season ties the Nebraska season record, matching Mike Rozier’s four 200-yard rushing games in 1983. Abdullah has five career 200-yard rushing games.
- Abdullah’s 225 rushing yards marked his 23rd career 100-yard rushing game, and his sixth of the 2014 season. Abdullah’s 23 100-yard rushing games are the most in the nation and the second-most in NU history, trailing Mike Rozier’s 26 career 100-yard rushing games.
- With his 225 rushing yards, Abdullah increased his season rushing total to 1,249 yards, moving him into the No. 13 on the NU single-season rushing list, including second among senior seasons. Abdullah increased his career rushing total to 4,226 yards, moving him within 554 yards of Mike Rozier’s Nebraska career record of 4,780 rushing yards.
- Abdullah’s 53-yard touchdown run in the second quarter marked his fourth play from scrimmage of better than 50 yards this season, including three runs (57 vs. Fresno State, 50 vs. Northwestern, 53 vs. Rutgers) and one reception (58 vs. McNeese State). With his three rushing touchdowns today, Abdullah has recorded five straight games with multiple rushing touchdowns. He added runs of 48 and 49 yards later in the game.
- Abdullah’s three touchdowns give him 37 career rushing touchdowns, moving him into fifth place on the NU career rushing touchdowns list, passing Tommie Frazier’s 36 career rushing touchdowns. Abdullah has 45 overall career touchdowns, tying him with Ahman Green for third on the Nebraska all-time list. His 19 touchdowns this season are tied for fifth on the Nebraska single-season chart and just three touchdowns from the No. 2 spot on the list.
- In addition to his 225 rushing yards, Abdullah totaled 26 receiving yards and 90 kick return yards for a school-record 341 all-purpose yards. The previous record was 321 all-purpose yards by Roy Helu Jr. against Missouri in 2010. Abdullah has the only two 300-yard all-purpose yardage games in the nation this season, including today’s effort and his 313 all-purpose yards against Miami on Sept. 20.
- Abdullah increased his career all-purpose yardage total to 6,604 in today’s game. Abdullah moved from fourth to second place on the Big Ten’s career all-purpose yardage list in today’s game. He moved past Anthony Thompson (Indiana, 6,466 yards) and Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (6,559 yards) in today’s game. Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne is the career Big Ten leader with 7,429 career all-purpose yards.
- Senior receiver Kenny Bell caught six passes for 63 yards in today’s game. Bell now has 167 career receptions, setting a new Nebraska school record, bettering the 166 catches by Nate Swift from 2005 to 2008. Bell now has 2,473 career receiving yards to move within six yards of Johnny Rodgers’ school record of 2,479 career receiving yards.
- Bell has caught a pass in 23 straight games since not catching a pass at Iowa in 2012. The 23-game streak is tied for the third-longest in school history, matching his own 23-game streak prior to not having a catch at Iowa two seasons ago. Bell has had at least one catch in 45 of the last 46 games.
- Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. completed 14-of-22 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Armstrong rushed six times for 19 yards, including a 16-yard TD run in the first quarter to open the scoring. The 16-yard touchdown run marked the longest touchdown run of Armstrong’s career. Armstrong increased his season total offensive total to 2,210 marking the third-most total offensive yards through eight games in school history.
- Nebraska senior linebacker Zaire Anderson tied a career-high with 11 tackles, he also had 11 tackles at Minnesota in 2013.
- Sophomore defensive tackle Maliek Collins had a career-high seven tackles, bettering his previous high of four tackles at Fresno State. Collins also had a seven-yard sack and three quarterback hurries.
- Sophomore safety Nate Gerry had a first-quarter interception that he returned for 28 yards. Gerry has a team-leading three interceptions, including each of the past two weeks. Gerry’s three interceptions have all occurred in Big Ten games.
- Junior defensive end Randy Gregory blocked a second-quarter Rutgers field goal, marking Nebraska’s first blocked field goal since Josh Williams blocked a Tennessee-Chattanooga field goal in 2011.
- Gregory recorded a 12-yard sack in the third quarter to give him 5.5 sacks this season and 16 in his career. Gregory is just 0.5 sacks shy of the top 10 on the Nebraska career sacks list. Gregory’s 16 sacks have come in 20 career games and he has at least one sack in 8 of 12 career Big Ten Conference games. Gregory finished the day with five total tackles and two quarterback hurries in addition to his sack and blocked field goal.
- The Blackshirt defense limited Rutgers to -2 rushing yards and just 25 total yards in the second quarter after the Scarlet Knights had gained 160 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
- Sophomore punter Sam Foltz pinned Rutgers inside their 20-yard line twice on three punts today, giving him 16 punts inside the opponents 20 this season, including 7 in the past two weeks.