Nebraska shuts out Iowa in first half as Trey Palmer breaks season receiving yards record
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IOWA CITY — Trey Palmer broke the Nebraska single-season record for receiving yards while catching two touchdown passes and the defense forced a pair of quarterback strip sacks to spark the Huskers to a 17-0 halftime lead over shell-shocked Iowa.
Palmer erupted for six catches for 138 yards and a pair of scores, including scoring grabs of 87 and 18 yards. The defense was just as good, netting a pair of takeaways — as many as it managed in the last four games combined — and five tackles for loss in all to hold the Hawkeyes to just 72 yards.
The Huskers entered the game as 10.5-point underdogs and with lengthy losing streaks to both Iowa (seven games) and Big Ten West foes (nine). An Iowa win would send it to the Big Ten title game next weekend.
Instead NU posted its third first-half shutout in the last four weeks while silencing a rowdy Kinnick Stadium crowd in the setting sun.
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Nebraska handled Iowa’s offense early like the worst Power Five unit that it’s been. Quarterback Spencer Petras misfired on his first five passes spanning two punts. The first set up Nebraska for a drive in which it passed on eight of nine plays and traveled 45 yards before kicker Timmy Bleekrode — who had hit on 8 of 10 field goals this season — missed wide right.
But the visitors shook off the early mistake in a big way. Quarterback Casey Thompson loaded up on a perfect deep ball over the middle to Palmer for an 87-yard touchdown on the first snap of the drive.
Then, glorious havoc for the group formerly known as the Blackshirts. Cornerback Quinton Newsome reached Petras on a blitz on second and seven and stripped the ball loose before linebacker Ernest Hausmann fell on it. NU cashed in on the short field seven plays later with a 21-yard field and a 10-0 lead.
The sack knocked Petras from the game — he watched the second quarter from the sidelines with his arm in a sling — as Iowa took to the ground with seven straight run plays on zone reads to backs Kaleb Johnson and Leshon Williams. The 13-play march ended as Iowa approached the red zone when Eteva Mauga-Clements — starting in place of injured linebacker and leading tackler Luke Reimer — knocked the ball from the hands of backup QB Alex Padilla.
NU linebacker Garrett Nelson scooped it for a short return and another short field. A third-and-3 pass interference call extended the drive and Thompson hit Palmer over the middle for an 18-yard score on the next snap that put Nebraska up 17-0 and gave the LSU transfer the school record for receiving yards in a season ahead of the 1,004-yard campaign Stanley Morgan completed at Kinnick Stadium in 2018.
The teams exchanged punts from there before Nebraska ran out the clock. Thompson is 12-of-19 passing for 196 yards. For Iowa, Padilla is 5-of-6 for 23 yards.
Photos: Nebraska football closes out season at Iowa
Nebraska’s Garrett Nelson runs a fumble during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Garrett Nelson grabs a fumble after Eteva Mauga-Clements sacked Iowa quarterback Alex Padilla during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Iowa wide receiver Arland Bruce IV tackles Nebraska’s Garrett Nelson during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Eteva Mauga-Clements, Garrett Nelson and Caleb Tannor celebrate taking over on downs after a fumble during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Eteva Mauga-Clements sacks Iowa quarterback Alex Padilla during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson runs the ball during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz shrugs at officials after a pass interference call on Iowa during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode high fives Travis Vokolek after kicking an extra point during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Caleb Tannor celebrates a sack on Iowa quarterback Alex Padilla during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Iowa defensive back Jamison Heinz reaches for a pass intended for Nebraska’s Trey Palmer during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson is tackled by Iowa linebacker Seth Benson during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson is helped up by teammates after being tackled during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Mickey Joseph walks on the field during a timeout during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer runs the ball for a touchdown during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Logan Smothers warms up before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson warms up before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson warms up before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Ernest Hausmann walks on the field before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Phalen Sanford tackles Iowa running back Gavin Williams during a kickoff return during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer runs the ball during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer attempts to grab onto a loose pass during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome reacts after Ernest Hausmann recovered a fumble during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Mickey Joseph calls to players between plays during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson looks to throw a pass during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Mickey Joseph walks into Kinnick Stadium before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson enters Kinnick Stadium before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson enters Kinnick Stadium during a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Bill Busch enters Kinnick Stadium before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska’s Mark Whipple looks out at the field before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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Nebraska fans find their seats before a game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday.
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