Randy York’s N-Sider
What do you get when you’re 8-3, staring straight down the barrel of a third consecutive loss to end a once promising season and you’re behind 24-7 just before the start of the fourth quarter? In my mind, you get Kenny Bell, De’Mornay Pierson-El and one tough Tommy Armstrong Jr., a Teflon-tested quarterback who grew up in Nebraska’s 37-34 overtime win at Iowa Saturday. “I can tell you this. That was one of the gutsiest performances I’ve seen in a long time from a quarterback,” Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini said after Armstrong’s leadership rescued Nebraska from the 17-point deficit and later tied for the largest road comeback in school history and for the second largest overall comeback in program history.
Armstrong Showed Character, Leadership, Toughness
Pelini realizes his sophomore quarterback isn’t perfect and has a lot to learn. “But there isn’t anybody who competes harder than he does,” Pelini said. “He competed his butt off and made a lot of big plays. I told him ‘I’m proud of you – you showed the character, the leadership, and the toughness you have to show.’ I thought it was a pretty special performance by that kid. He took a lot of shots." Most were the result of the makeshift offensive line in front of him. "He got hit on that (bruised) rib that’s been bothering him," Pelini said. "You have to really put him down to put him out.”
Tommy a Detailed Leader, Relentless Competitor
Quarterbacks are all about leadership, attention to detail and a relentless competitive nature, and Armstrong turned on the power button in all three areas. Even though Tommy, pictured above fighting through rib pain, was hurting physically from a barrage of brutal hits, he played through his trials and tribulations and ended up completing 12 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns. The first was a five-yard touchdown pass to Ameer Abdullah, followed by scoring strikes of 34 yards to Taariq Allen, 32 yards to Kenny Bell and the game-winning 9-yard touchdown pass to Bell in overtime. Almost all of that production came after Armstrong adapted to the cold reality of two first-half interceptions and a series on the bench to catch his breath and heal his body. Daunting is the only descriptor that fits the reality of Tommy receiving the ball from third-team center Paul Thurston for the rest of a true-grit challenge for both players who would have a hand in almost every snap for the rest of the game.
Bell: The Ideal Game Winner for His Team, His Coach
Bell, pictured above catching the game-winning pass in overtime, also was the catalyst to extend the game with his 32-yard fourth-quarter touchdown catch. Bell's two scoring receptions tied his career high and increased his career total to 20 touchdown receptions, enabling him to become only the third player in school history to reach that milestone. Somehow, Bell's stats seemed like poetic justice since he missed almost the entire Senior Day game loss last Saturday against Minnesota and was unable to practice all week because of a head injury that was not cleared until later. Bell's two touchdown receptions could not have been more different. The first was a leaping stretch in the back of the end zone, converting a 32-yard pass into a last-minute touchdown to pull Nebraska within 24-14 late in the third quarter. The second scoring catch in overtime was as simple as Bell finding the first square foot inside the end zone and waiting for Armstrong to launch a missile to help the Huskers finish a 9-3 regular season and earn a more appealing bowl invitation for players, coaches and fans.
Pierson-El Shows Why Huskers Have Definitive Edge
Pierson-El, a freshman from Alexandria, Va., had three punt returns for 134 yards. He returned two punts for 121 yards in the fourth quarter alone, including an 80-yard touchdown. He also had a 41-yard fourth-quarter punt return, giving Pierson-El 589 punt return yards this season. That mark ranks third best in school history. His three punt return touchdowns in 2014 also are tied for the third most in Nebraska history. Pierson-El entered the game averaging 15.2 yards per return to lead the Big Ten Conference and rank fourth nationally.
Abdullah's Nation-Leading 24th 100-Yard Rushing Game
Abdullah rushed 13 times for 106 yards, including a 53-yard run in the third quarter, his fourth run of at least 50 yards this season. Abdullah increased his season rushing total to 1,523, moving him up to sixth on NU's single-season rushing list. Abdullah also became only the second player in school history with two 1,500-yard rushing seasons, joining Mike Rozier. Abdullah had 1,690 rushing yards in 2013 and Saturday's game marked a nation-leading 24th career 100-yard rushing game and his seventh of the 2014 season. His 24 career 100-yard games rank second in Nebraska history to Rozier’s 26 100-yard games. Abdullah increased his career rushing total to 4,500 yards. He also increased his career all-purpose yardage total to 6,917, moving him within 83 yards of becoming the 11th player in NCAA history with 7,000 career all-purpose yards. Abdullah’s receiving touchdown in the second quarter was his 21st overall touchdown this season, including 18 rushing scores and three TD receptions. The 21 overall touchdowns are fourth on Nebraska’s season list. Friday's touchdown was the 47th of Abdullah’s career, good for third on Nebraska's career charts.
Gerry's Five Interceptions NU's Best in Four Seasons
Nebraska's defense had four takeaways in the first half, including two with Iowa in the Nebraska red zone. Saturday's game marked the fifth time in 2014 the Nebraska defense has had three or more takeaways, including four in Big Ten Conference action. The four takeaways tied for the most in any game since Nebraska had six takeaways against Idaho in 2010. Sophomore safety Nate Gerry's first-quarter interception ended an Iowa scoring threat and triggered a spirited sideline celebration with Husker Defensive Coordinator John Papuchis. The interception was Gerry’s team-leading fifth interception of the season, all recorded in Big Ten Conference play. Gerry’s five interceptions are the most by a Husker since Eric Hagg intercepted five passes in 2010. Gerry also totaled a career-high 15 tackles, including 10 solos and three tackles for loss.
Anderson Causes Fumble, Has Career-High 14 Tackles
Senior linebacker Zaire Anderson caused a second-quarter Iowa fumble with a sack. The fumble caused was Anderson’s third of the season with all three coming in the past three games. Anderson’s three fumbles caused are the most by a Husker since Alonzo Whaley caused four fumbles in 2012. Anderson finished the game with a career-high 14 total tackles, increasing his team-leading total to 95. The double-figure tackle game was Anderson’s fourth in the past five games, increasing his season total to 12 tackles for loss. True freshman defensive back Josh Kalu had six tackles, including five solos, plus one of the plays of the game when he finished a tackle with a takeaway that resulted in a fumble recovery and a critical 11-yard return.
Cornhuskers Hoist Third Heroes Trophy in Four Years
Nebraska and Iowa have not exactly hit a fever pitch in their four-year annual Heroes Game rivaly, but the Huskers found redemption Friday in Iowa City after the Hawkeyes halted Nebraska's two-year reign with a win over the Huskers last year in Lincoln. Co-captain Jake Cotton, pictured above, made sure his teammates understood that the Heroes Trophy is back in Lincoln.
Win Gives Pelini Nine Wins for Seventh Straight Season
With Friday's comeback, Nebraska finished the regular season with a 9-3 record – the seventh straight season the Huskers have won at least nine games. Only Nebraska, Alabama and Oregon have won at least nine games every season since 2008. NU also finished 5-3 in Big Ten play, posting a winning conference record for the seventh straight season. The win gave Pelini 66 wins in his first seven seasons as Nebraska’s head coach. He passed Tom Osborne for the most wins by a Husker head coach in his first seven seasons. Pelini also became the sixth coach in FBS history at a Power Five Conference school to win nine games in each of his first seven seasons.
Huskers Work OT for 37-34 Win Over Iowa
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