LINCOLN—Nebraska’s fourth-quarter dominance showed up again Saturday. This time it was Terrell Newby leading the way.The senior ran for 113 of his 140 yards and scored two touchdowns in the last 15 minutes, just in time for the 15th-ranked Cornhuskers to turn back Illinois’ upset bid and win 31-16.Newby touched the ball on 18 of Nebraska’s last 21 plays from scrimmage and the Cornhuskers (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) won going away after being down 16-10. They also avenged a 14-13 loss last year in Champaign.Newby’s two TDs came as Nebraska scored 21 straight points to overcome a 16-10 deficit. The Huskers have outscored their five opponents 78-6 in the fourth quarter.Illinois (1-3, 0-1) got off only 10 offensive plays after taking its six-point lead with 7:40 left in the third quarter. The Illini have lost 14 straight and 23 of 24 against Top 25 opponents.
”We got better today. We still have a loss but I think we made improvements,” Illinois coach Lovie Smith said. ”We hung in there throughout, had a lead for most of the game, but it’s about finishing. We didn’t do that.”
Nebraska, favored by three touchdowns, turned over the ball on back-to-back possessions while falling behind. The Illini had to settle for field goals after each takeaway, allowing the Huskers to stay close.The Huskers went 18 plays in 10:42 to take a one-point lead early in the fourth. Nebraska kept the drive alive because of two huge penalties on the Illini. Chunky Clements had Tommy Armstrong Jr. stopped for a loss on a third-and-12, but he was called for a horse-collar tackle, and Darius Mosley was flagged for pass interference on a fourth-and-4.The biggest play, though, was when Newby picked up a first down by inches on a fourth-and-1 at the Illinois 4. The spot stood after a video review.
”It’s a game of inches,” Newby said. ”I tried to do everything I could to stretch the ball out. I’m glad it went our way.”
Newby went into the end zone from the 3 on the next play, and he finished the scoring with a 63-yard burst.Reggie Corbin led the Illini with 72 yards on nine carries, and Kendrick Foster scored their only touchdown on a 31-yard run. Wes Lunt was 13 for 22 for 133 yards.
”Definitely no moral victories,” Lunt said, ”but we’re so close to breaking through. We’re leading all the way up to the fourth and battled through adversity all game. But at the end, they made a few plays and won the game.”
The Illini, who have lost three in a row since winning their opener, gave Nebraska all it could handle. The offense couldn’t get going again once the Huskers took the lead, and the defense was on the field way too long.
”Looking at our team and watching that thing take place, it appears to be a real good time for a bye week,” Riley said.
Nebraska has a chance to move up, but the Huskers aren’t ready to break into the top 10 for the first time since 2011.
”Well, did you all stay around for the fourth quarter? That didn’t look like much up until then.” – Riley.
The Illini return home to face Purdue, which they beat 48-14 last season.