Huskers still falling short in quest for bowl-qualifying sixth win

Lincoln - Dante Dowdell had a pair of rushing touchdowns, while Isaiah Neyor added four receptions for 89 yards and a score, but it was not enough as UCLA defeated Nebraska 27-20 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskers slipped to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten, while UCLA improved to 3-5 and 2-4 in the conference. The Bruins led from start to finish after taking the opening kickoff 68 yards in 14 plays before Mateen Bhagdani booted a 25-yard field goal to give UCLA a 3-0 lead eight minutes into the game.

The Bruin defense then forced a quick three-and-out, before UCLA took its second offensive possession 85 yards in 11 plays covering 6:37 to take a 10-0 lead just 1:13 into the second quarter.

Dylan Raiola, who completed 14-of-27 passes for 177 yards on the day, led Nebraska on its first scoring drive on the ensuing possession. The Huskers covered 75 yards in nine plays capped by Dowdell's four-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7. Dowdell finished the day with 61 yards on 17 carries to lead a Husker rushing attack that managed 113 yards on the afternoon.

Bhaghani added another short field goal midway through the second quarter to push UCLA's lead to 13-7 at the half.

Nebraska started the second half with the ball and a chance to take its first lead of the day, but Raiola's pass on the first play of the half was intercepted by UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano, who returned it 38 yards for a touchdown to extend the Bruin lead to 20-7.

Things got more challenging for the Huskers when the offense failed to convert a 4th-and-3 at the UCLA 42 with 10:03 left in the third. The Bruin offense capitalized three plays later, when Ethan Garbers connected with Kwazi Gilmer on a 48-yard touchdown pass to push the margin to 27-7 with 8:21 left in the period.

Garbers finished the day 17-for-25 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a team-high 56 yards on six carries, including a massive 57-yard to set up a first-half score. Gilmer closed his day with three receptions for a team-high 88 yards.

Nebraska cut into UCLA's lead with Raiola's eight-yard touchdown pass to Neyor with 5:23 left in the third to cut the lead to 27-14 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Huskers pulled back to within one score when Dowdell blasted into the end zone from one yard out with 3:57 left in the game. However, Nebraska missed the extra point to keep UCLA's lead at 27-20, despite the Big Red's 13-play, 53-yard drive that consumed 6:01 on the clock.

The Blackshirts stepped up late to force a three-and-out by the Bruins and took over at the NU 19 with a chance to win or tie the game with 2:22 left.

Heinrich Haarberg, who replaced Raiola for the final two yards of Nebraska's previous scoring drive after Raiola was injured following a short gain, moved the Huskers to the UCLA 39 in the closing minute. Nebraska's hopes ended when Haarberg's pass to Jacory Barney Jr. was intercepted by Kaylin Moore with 29 seconds left after the ball deflected off Barney's leg at the UCLA 13.

UCLA finished with 358 total yards, while Nebraska managed 322. The Bruins totaled 139 yards on the ground and 219 through the air, while the Huskers put up 209 passing yards, including 32 from Haarberg on 2-of-7 completions.

Isaac Gifford led the Blackshirts with nine tackles, while John Bullock and DeShon Singleton contributed eight stops. Carson Schwesinger led he Bruin defense with 13 tackles, including nine solos, and two pass breakups.

Nebraska will welcome its second bye of the season, before facing USC at the Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kick-off time and television information has not been announced.

Game Summary

UCLA 27

Nebraska 20

Lincoln, Nebraska

Memorial Stadium

Attendance: 87,453

First Quarter (UCLA 3-0)

UCLA - 7:00 - Mateen Bhaghani 25 FG, 14 plays, 68 yards, 8:00 - UCLA 3-0

Second Quarter (UCLA 13-7)

UCLA - 13:47 - Jalen Berger 10 pass from Ethan Garbers (Bhaghani kick), 11 plays, 85 yards, 6:37 - UCLA 10-0

NEB - 10:02 - Dante Dowdell 4 run (John Hohl kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:45 - UCLA 10-7

UCLA - 6:52 - Bhaghani 26 FG, 7 plays, 67 yards, 3:10 - UCLA 13-7

Third Quarter (UCLA 27-14)

UCLA - 14:50 - Kain Medrano 38 INT return (Bhaghani kick) - UCLA 20-7

UCLA - 8:21 - Kwazi Gilmer 48 pass from Garbers (Bhaghani kick), 3 plays, 58 yards, 1:42 - UCLA 27-7

NEB - 5:23 - Isaiah Neyor 8 pass from Dylan Raiola (Hohl kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:58 - UCLA 27-14

Fourth Quarter (UCLA 27-20)

NEB - 3:57 - Dowdell 1 run (Hohl kick failed), 13 plays, 53 yards, 6:01 - UCLA 27-20