Week 12 Open

Do You Believe in T-Magic?! 

Nebraska survives a major scare from a Michigan State team with their hands on the Huskers' throats ready to squeeze. The two teams had a roller coaster of a game with big plays and bad luck going both ways.  After a strong showing in the first half, Michigan State ended Nebraska first second half drive and scored to extend their lead on a massive controversial call. MSU QB scrambles, meets defenders and the ball pops loose. MSU picks the ball up after it squeaks out from the scrum, and a TD is called despite the defender standing between the goalline and 1 yard line.  When things looked bleak, the Huskers found a way to get down the field and score again to draw within four.
The fourth quarter was exciting until the end. Down by 4, Nebraska ripped off a monster run on a basic HB Power with Ameer Abdullah who refused to go down, and refused to leave the field despite being gassed. The play led to a 25 yard TD pass where Martinez connected with Jamal Turner by dropping the pass over the coverage, but under the ball hawking safety who had been making life miserable for receivers all day long.  Now up 3, Nebraska forced a 4th and 2 with a little over 3 or 4 minutes in the game. AALOA rules forced the punt despite Coach Hunter's urge to go for it. But with three time outs, Sparty punted, and it led to Nebraska pushing down the field. Getting a few key stops, the Huskers faced 4th down, and the kicking team set up for a 53 yard field goal...CLANG off the cross bar, just short (left the meter a 1/4 inch off max or it'd be good) and MSU was still alive. One play into the game defining drive, Michigan State is down one, and freshman QB Damion Terry looks left to find MLB David Santos of Nebraska to end the game on an INT. Nebraska would kneel out the clock and breathe a sigh of relief.  Game 1 of the Gauntlet is down.

Final Score
 28
 31

MSU was doing everything in their might to stop Martinez from breaking big gains with his feet. The QB was near perfect through the air, with no picks and 2 TDs. All of his rushing yardage came on scrambles from the ferocious Spartan pass rush. Player of the Game is shared between Martinez and Abdullah.

Squirrel faced odd penalties at inopportune time, like multiple phantom facemasks. Both teams had ridiculous sticky glue coverage at times. Squirrel would complete passes throwing into coverage, I'd take sacks or almost throw picks. My coverage either covered great, despite giving up passes, or was nowhere to be found at times. Crazy stuff. Good game Squirrel.