Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Post-Game Notes: Nebraska
11/17/2018 10:11:00 PM | Football
• Nebraska edged Michigan State, 9-6, before a crowd of 88,793 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday . . . the Cornhuskers lead the all-time series, 9-2.
OFFENSE
• Sophomore Connor Heyward collected 177 all-purpose yards, his second-best output of the season (208 vs. Maryland) . . . on the ground, Heyward had a career-high 21 carries for 80 yards . . . he also had five receptions for a career-best 78 yards, including a career-long 36-yard catch in the third quarter and a 34-yard catch in the fourth quarter . . . in addition, he had a 19-yard kickoff return.
• In his second career start at quarterback, redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi collected 199 yards of total offense . . . he completed 15-of-41 passes for 146 yards and ran for a career-high 53 yards on nine carries (5.9 avg.).
DEFENSE
• Michigan State held Nebraska to a season-low nine points (season average: 32.3 ppg) . . . the Huskers entered the game ranked 13th in the FBS in total offense with 482.6 yards per game, but were limited to 248 yards of total offense, their second-lowest output of the season . . . Nebraska was held to 103 rushing yards, the second-lowest rushing total for the Huskers in 2018.
• Michigan State has held its opponents to 21 or fewer points eight times this season . . . MSU kept Nebraska out of the end zone, marking the second time this season the Spartans haven't allowed an opponent to score a touchdown (Maryland).
• The Spartans forced four fumbles, including two for turnovers (Andrew Dowell forced a fumble and recovered it in the first quarter; Jacub Panasiuk forced a fumble on a sack in the second quarter).
• Andrew Dowell led MSU with 10 tackles, marking the third time this season and fourth in his career he has record double-digit tackles.
• For the second consecutive game, Kenny Willekes tied his career high with 3.5 tackles for loss (5 yards) . . . he also recovered a fumble in the second quarter . . . Willekes has 20.5 tackles for loss this season, second most in school history (Julian Peterson with 30 in 1999).
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made two of his three field-goal attempts (made: 34-yarder in first quarter; missed 41-yard off upright in second quarter; made 26-yarder in fourth quarter) . . . Coghlin is 16-of-19 on field-goal attempts this season.
• True freshman walk-on William Przystup became the fourth Spartan to start at punter in 2018 (Jake Hartbarger; Tyler Hunt; Bryce Baringer) . . . Przystup punted seven times for 294 yard s (42.0 avg.), including one inside the 20.
OFFENSE
• Sophomore Connor Heyward collected 177 all-purpose yards, his second-best output of the season (208 vs. Maryland) . . . on the ground, Heyward had a career-high 21 carries for 80 yards . . . he also had five receptions for a career-best 78 yards, including a career-long 36-yard catch in the third quarter and a 34-yard catch in the fourth quarter . . . in addition, he had a 19-yard kickoff return.
• In his second career start at quarterback, redshirt freshman Rocky Lombardi collected 199 yards of total offense . . . he completed 15-of-41 passes for 146 yards and ran for a career-high 53 yards on nine carries (5.9 avg.).
DEFENSE
• Michigan State held Nebraska to a season-low nine points (season average: 32.3 ppg) . . . the Huskers entered the game ranked 13th in the FBS in total offense with 482.6 yards per game, but were limited to 248 yards of total offense, their second-lowest output of the season . . . Nebraska was held to 103 rushing yards, the second-lowest rushing total for the Huskers in 2018.
• Michigan State has held its opponents to 21 or fewer points eight times this season . . . MSU kept Nebraska out of the end zone, marking the second time this season the Spartans haven't allowed an opponent to score a touchdown (Maryland).
• The Spartans forced four fumbles, including two for turnovers (Andrew Dowell forced a fumble and recovered it in the first quarter; Jacub Panasiuk forced a fumble on a sack in the second quarter).
• Andrew Dowell led MSU with 10 tackles, marking the third time this season and fourth in his career he has record double-digit tackles.
• For the second consecutive game, Kenny Willekes tied his career high with 3.5 tackles for loss (5 yards) . . . he also recovered a fumble in the second quarter . . . Willekes has 20.5 tackles for loss this season, second most in school history (Julian Peterson with 30 in 1999).
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Matt Coghlin made two of his three field-goal attempts (made: 34-yarder in first quarter; missed 41-yard off upright in second quarter; made 26-yarder in fourth quarter) . . . Coghlin is 16-of-19 on field-goal attempts this season.
• True freshman walk-on William Przystup became the fourth Spartan to start at punter in 2018 (Jake Hartbarger; Tyler Hunt; Bryce Baringer) . . . Przystup punted seven times for 294 yard s (42.0 avg.), including one inside the 20.
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
P
/ Football
DE
/ FootballJonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 24 2025
Monday, November 24
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Iowa
Saturday, November 22
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 17 2025
Monday, November 17
Jonathan Smith Post Game Comments | PSU | Nov. 15 2025
Saturday, November 15