Nebraska closed its 2024 football season with a 20-15 victory over Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, marking the Huskers’ first winning campaign since 2016.
The win gave Nebraska a 7-6 overall record and its first bowl triumph since 2015. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 23 of 31 passes for 228 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Raiola’s performance brought his season total to 2,826 passing yards, surpassing Adrian Martinez’s 2018 freshman record of 2,617 yards.
Emmett Johnson led the Huskers on the ground with 14 carries for 68 yards, while Rahmir Johnson added 60 yards on 10 carries, including a four-yard touchdown run. Jahmal Banks tallied four receptions for 79 yards, and Thomas Fidone II added five catches for 50 yards.
Nebraska seniors Bryce Benhart and Ty Robinson each appeared in their 60th career game, a school record. Benhart also set the Nebraska record for career starts with 54, surpassing Alex Henery’s 53.
The Huskers struck first early in the second quarter with a 15-play, 75-yard drive capped by Rahmir Johnson’s four-yard touchdown run. Nebraska extended its lead later in the quarter when Kwinten Ives scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run, making it 13-0. Boston College responded by returning a blocked extra-point attempt 87 yards for two points, cutting the lead to 13-2.
Nebraska’s defense, led by Vincent Shavers Jr., John Bullock, and Riley Van Poppel, forced three first-half turnovers on downs, including a critical stop inside their own 10-yard line late in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Elijah Jeudy recovered a fumble caused by Bullock’s strip sack, setting up a seven-play, 50-yard scoring drive capped by Raiola’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Emmett Johnson. The Huskers extended their lead to 20-2.
Boston College mounted a late comeback attempt, scoring on a one-yard run by Turbo Richard and recovering a blocked punt to set up another touchdown by Jordan McDonald. The Eagles narrowed the margin to 20-15 with 4:18 remaining.
Nebraska sealed the victory with a decisive fourth-down conversion on Rahmir Johnson’s 11-yard run, allowing the Huskers to run out the clock. Raiola took three kneel-downs in victory formation to secure the win.
Shavers Jr. led Nebraska’s defense with five tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Bullock added five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. Javin Wright topped the Huskers’ stat sheet with eight tackles.
The victory marked a milestone for Nebraska, providing momentum for the program heading into 2025.
Source: Huskers.com