3 takeaways from Nebraska football’s Pinstripe Bowl win

It wasn’t a work of art, but it was a win, a win that Nebraska football needed.

At one point, it looked like the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl was going to be a blowout. Maybe it should have been. The Huskers had a turnover on downs in the red zone, as well as an interception that Dylan Raiola threw near the goal line.

However, Boston College also turned the ball over on downs twice inside the red zone, so on a sloppy field, Nebraska football won a sloppy game, 20-15.

That win clinched a winning season and offered another sign of progress. The last 10 minutes were ugly, but the Huskers gave away nine points on special teams, thanks to a blocked punt and a blocked PAT returned for a touchdown.

If those things don’t happen, this is a double-digit win, even though the offense disappeared for large parts of the second half. The weather didn’t help and neither did the playing surface.

Winning doesn’t have to be pretty though. You just have to do it and Nebraska football found a way when in the recent past, it might have failed.

Here are three takeaways from a 20-15 win that will hopefully be a springboard to something better.

Nebraska doesn’t win without key veterans

Not only did Rahmir Johnson score the first touchdown of the game for Nebraska football, he also had two other essential runs in the win.

Johnson had a 22-yard run that set up the Kwinten Ives touchdown which put the Huskers in front 13-0. Boston College made it interesting, starting with the blocked PAT after that touchdown.

Eventually, in the fourth quarter, it was 20-15 Nebraska. The Huskers faced a fourth-and-one and they gave the ball to Johnson who broke a tackle and ran for a first down to clinch the first bowl win for this program since 2015.

Ty Robinson was just as important on defense. He had four tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. Johnson and Robinson are each seniors. They have been through it all and it was good to see them end their Nebraska fooball careers with a win.

Dylan Raiola was a difference-maker

Raiola finished with 220 passing yards, three rushing yards, and one touchdown pass but he was a big reason why Nebraska won the game. Yes, he threw an interception and should have slid later on that final run, but all in all, it was a good performance heading into the offseason.

Raiola rarely missed and for a wet, slippery day, he commanded the ball well. I thought he would have a bigger day throwing the ball, but Boston College did a nice job of shortening the game.

Still, Raiola connected with five different receivers on completions of 14 yards or more. There was a little meat left on the bone, especially on some downfield passes to Jacory Barney, but this was a positive way to end the season for the Nebraska football quarterback.

Young talent showed out

Vincent Shavers was spectacular on Saturday, finishing the Pinstripe Bowl with six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss. Shavers had a strip sack in the first half and also a key stop on a third-and-one to force a fourth down.

Willis McGahee IV also brought consistent pressure and Keona Davis had a nice day on the defensive line. Even Donovan Jones, who played extensively at cornerback, didn’t look out of place.

It doesn’t feel like Raiola is a freshman but he had a solid game too, while Barney had three receptions for 19 yards. The future is bright for Nebraska football and the Pinstripe Bowl was a reminder of that.

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