Eisenhart makes most of his opportunity to play
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ben Eisenhart nearly came up with the play of his career.
The fifth-year senior from Culbertson thought he intercepted a Wake Forest pass near midfield in the final minute of Nebraska’s 20-17 victory Saturday at Groves Stadium.
Brett Hodges’ third-and-10 pass was tipped by Nebraska cornerback Cortney Grixby. Eisenhart dove for the ball, and officials on the field ruled an interception.
Replay officials overturned the call, saying Eisenhart trapped the ball.
“I could’ve sworn on my life I caught it,” Eisenhart said. “If it hit the ground, there wasn’t very much of it that hit the ground, that’s for sure.”
Still, Eisenhart contributed more meaningful snaps than he’s ever played. He filled in for senior Tierre Green, who left the game early in the third quarter with a shoulder stinger.
Eisenhart, who played every down for the Blackshirts after Green left, tied a career high with four tackles, including two solo.
“It was a great time,” Eisenhart said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for that. It worked out.”
Keller managed well
Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said quarterback Sam Keller managed the game well in his second start as a Husker.
The senior was 24-for-41 with a touchdown, but also threw two interceptions and fumbled away one snap. His first interception came when Wake Forest’s Kerry Harris dove in front of a pass intended for Nate Swift.
“I think Nate slipped coming out of his break,” Watson said. “Kid made a heckuva play on the ball.”
Keller’s second interception came with 7:55 left in the game at the NU 10-yard line. Pressured and hit in the pocket, the ball landed in the arms of Deacon defensive tackle John Russell.
Keller said the play probably should have been a fumble, not an interception.
“I was in the midst of pumping to get the ball out, and then just got hit in the back,” Keller said. “In that case, I should tuck it and just eat it, but I was trying to it out to Marlon (Lucky). ... Sometimes they were just on the screws and really came after us.”
Questions about Q
After an impressive debut last week, Husker freshman Quentin Castille carried the ball just six times for 28 yards Saturday.
Junior running back Marlon Lucky had 24 rushes for 90 yards. Why the disparity?
“(Lucky) got in the flow in terms of the pattern we were running,” running backs coach Randy Jordan said. “The biggest thing is you want a back who continues to touch the ball so that they get a real good feel for what’s going on. It’s hard for a guy to come off the bench and then have to get ready to get contact real quick.”
Junior Cody Glenn didn’t even get a carry. Injuries had nothing to do with it. Jordan said Glenn was fine to play and will have his chances before this season is over.
Quite a catch
The 25-yard touchdown catch by senior tight end Sean Hill that gave Nebraska a 13-10 lead with 16 seconds left in the first half was the first reception of his career.
Injury report
Husker junior defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler didn’t play at all because of a knee injury suffered last week. Kevin Dixon got the start in his place and saw the majority of snaps.
Senior cornerback Cortney Grixby sprained an ankle making a first-half tackle, but returned to the game. Nate Swift returned some punts in his place and Grixby’s only defensive action in the second half came when Nebraska was using nickel packages.
Mo’s return
Junior receiver Maurice Purify had three catches for 30 yards in his first game of the season after serving a suspension last week.
He caught a pass for 12 yards on his first snap in the game. He did drop one third-down pass that stalled a drive late in the second quarter.
“I didn’t feel fatigued at all, and there were very few plays I was in, so I think my conditioning is good,” Purify said.
Quick hits
Saturday’s attendance of 32,482 was the smallest to watch the Huskers since 30,150 fans were at the 1991 game at Oklahoma State. … Linebacker Corey McKeon’s first-quarter interception was the fifth of his career but first since 2005. ... Nebraska is now 3-0 all-time against Wake Forest. The Huskers have once before played Wake Forest and next week’s opponent Southern California in back-to-back weeks. NU beat the Deacons 36-12 and tied USC 21-21 in Los Angeles in 1970, the year of Nebraska’s first national championship.
— Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal
The fifth-year senior from Culbertson thought he intercepted a Wake Forest pass near midfield in the final minute of Nebraska’s 20-17 victory Saturday at Groves Stadium.
Brett Hodges’ third-and-10 pass was tipped by Nebraska cornerback Cortney Grixby. Eisenhart dove for the ball, and officials on the field ruled an interception.
Replay officials overturned the call, saying Eisenhart trapped the ball.
“I could’ve sworn on my life I caught it,” Eisenhart said. “If it hit the ground, there wasn’t very much of it that hit the ground, that’s for sure.”
Still, Eisenhart contributed more meaningful snaps than he’s ever played. He filled in for senior Tierre Green, who left the game early in the third quarter with a shoulder stinger.
Eisenhart, who played every down for the Blackshirts after Green left, tied a career high with four tackles, including two solo.
“It was a great time,” Eisenhart said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for that. It worked out.”
Keller managed well
Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said quarterback Sam Keller managed the game well in his second start as a Husker.
The senior was 24-for-41 with a touchdown, but also threw two interceptions and fumbled away one snap. His first interception came when Wake Forest’s Kerry Harris dove in front of a pass intended for Nate Swift.
“I think Nate slipped coming out of his break,” Watson said. “Kid made a heckuva play on the ball.”
Keller’s second interception came with 7:55 left in the game at the NU 10-yard line. Pressured and hit in the pocket, the ball landed in the arms of Deacon defensive tackle John Russell.
Keller said the play probably should have been a fumble, not an interception.
“I was in the midst of pumping to get the ball out, and then just got hit in the back,” Keller said. “In that case, I should tuck it and just eat it, but I was trying to it out to Marlon (Lucky). ... Sometimes they were just on the screws and really came after us.”
Questions about Q
After an impressive debut last week, Husker freshman Quentin Castille carried the ball just six times for 28 yards Saturday.
Junior running back Marlon Lucky had 24 rushes for 90 yards. Why the disparity?
“(Lucky) got in the flow in terms of the pattern we were running,” running backs coach Randy Jordan said. “The biggest thing is you want a back who continues to touch the ball so that they get a real good feel for what’s going on. It’s hard for a guy to come off the bench and then have to get ready to get contact real quick.”
Junior Cody Glenn didn’t even get a carry. Injuries had nothing to do with it. Jordan said Glenn was fine to play and will have his chances before this season is over.
Quite a catch
The 25-yard touchdown catch by senior tight end Sean Hill that gave Nebraska a 13-10 lead with 16 seconds left in the first half was the first reception of his career.
Injury report
Husker junior defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler didn’t play at all because of a knee injury suffered last week. Kevin Dixon got the start in his place and saw the majority of snaps.
Senior cornerback Cortney Grixby sprained an ankle making a first-half tackle, but returned to the game. Nate Swift returned some punts in his place and Grixby’s only defensive action in the second half came when Nebraska was using nickel packages.
Mo’s return
Junior receiver Maurice Purify had three catches for 30 yards in his first game of the season after serving a suspension last week.
He caught a pass for 12 yards on his first snap in the game. He did drop one third-down pass that stalled a drive late in the second quarter.
“I didn’t feel fatigued at all, and there were very few plays I was in, so I think my conditioning is good,” Purify said.
Quick hits
Saturday’s attendance of 32,482 was the smallest to watch the Huskers since 30,150 fans were at the 1991 game at Oklahoma State. … Linebacker Corey McKeon’s first-quarter interception was the fifth of his career but first since 2005. ... Nebraska is now 3-0 all-time against Wake Forest. The Huskers have once before played Wake Forest and next week’s opponent Southern California in back-to-back weeks. NU beat the Deacons 36-12 and tied USC 21-21 in Los Angeles in 1970, the year of Nebraska’s first national championship.
— Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal
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