It got bent. It got busted. It got flagged. But when Nebraska’s defense needed to make two third-quarter stops to save its season against young, game Baylor, the Cornhuskers gambled, won and delivered against dynamic BU quarterback Robert Griffin.


The first was a goal line stand that ended in missed field goal. The second was safety Larry Asante’s sack of Griffin on a fourth down play inside Husker territory. Combined with receiver Nate Swift’s record-breaking day, they helped seal a wild, messy - but crucial - 32-20 victory over the Bears that keeps NU’s hope of a Big 12 North title alive.


The 85,104 fans at Memorial Stadium watched Swift, a senior, break Johnny Rodgers’ long-held record for career receptions with a ten-catch, 111-yard day that included two touchdowns. The second, a 53-yard hitch-and-go from quarterback Joe Ganz, gave the Huskers a 10-point lead and iced the game.
But it was the defense, after getting gashed for 20 points and 234 yards in the first half – that secured the win.



Leading 20-17, BU drove to Nebraska’s 7-yard-line and four downs to extend its lead to ten. The Bears got nothing, as Griffin, who ran for 99 yards in the first half, was stopped on consecutive running plays. Ben Parks then missed a 19-yard field goal.


After that miss, Ganz engineered a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that ended in a nine-yard pass Swift, who made his record 144th reception with the grab. Ganz also converted a third-and-ten play on the drive by scrambling hard to his right and throwing back across his body to Swift.


Ganz then hit Swift for the second touchdown. While Alex Henery missed the extra point, NU led 30-20 early in the fourth quarter.


The Bears went into halftime to a 20-17 lead thanks to four offensive plays over 30 yards and two personal fouls called on NU linebacker Cody Glenn. The second, a 15-yard facemask penalty with NU leading 17-14, negated Glenn’s sack of Griffin and put the Bears near midfield. On the next play, Griffin found receiver Ernest Smith for a 35-yard option pass play. Griffin then hit Kendall Wright on a 16-yard slant pattern to the Nebraska 1. Jacoby Jones plunged over the goal line one play later.


The Huskers blocked the extra point; after the play was over Ty Steinkuhler was flagged for Nebraska’s third personal foul of the half. Pelini spent much of the ensuing TV timeout huddled with three referees, pleading his case.


The Huskers had taken a 17-14 lead with Marlon Lucky’s 18-yard touchdown run, one play after Lucky had kept the drive alive with a one-handed grab of Ganz’s errant pass. NU scored 10 consecutive points in the second quarter, as the defense sacked Griffin twice and forced two punts.


Nebraska received to start the game and its initial drive stalled after Niles Paul was hit one yard short of a first down at Baylor’s 45-yard line. BU was pinned at its own eight-yard line by a Dan Titchener punt, and punted itself after a three-and-out. Paul’s 19-yard punt return set the Huskers up at BU’s 39-yard line.


NU scored in six plays, much of it on the ground, although Ganz capped off the drive with a six-yard play action pass to tight end Ryan Hill for a touchdown.


Baylor answered immediately after starting its drive at the 37 when NU kicker Adi Kunalic botched a pooch kick. Griffin gained five yards on an option play, and Glenn was flagged for a horse collar tackle. On the next play, running back Jay Finley busted through two tackles for a 43-yard touchdown run.



The Huskers then punted on their third drive of the game, pinning Baylor at the four. Griffin swiftly reversed that field position with a zone read play for 40 yards. Griffin then scored four plays later on a fourth down from NU’s 47. Nebraska’s defense line bunched together to guard against a sneak; Griffin simply swept around the left end, and blazed down the sidelines virtually untouched.

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