Story by NU Athletic Communication
Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted a Brendan Sorsby pass in the end zone with 39 seconds remaining to seal Nebraska's 20-17 season-opening victory over Cincinnati Thursday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Hartzog's interception was one of two big takeaways for the Blackshirt defense, which recovered a fumble to set up a 24-yard Husker touchdown drive in the closing minute of the first half. Nebraska trailed 3-0 after one quarter but took a 13-3 lead into the locker room. Cincinnati managed two second-half touchdowns, but a three-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Raiola to Dane Key on a fourth-down play with 10:36 remaining provided the winning margin for the Big Red.
Raiola was efficient, completing 33-of-42 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Nebraska had 243 passing yards while limiting the Bearcats to just 69 yards through the air on 25 attempts. Cincinnati out-rushed Nebraska in the game, but Emmett Johnson led all players with 108 yards to post his second career 100-yard rushing game.
Defensively, DJ Singleton led Nebraska with eight tackles and five Huskers had a pass breakup. Hartzog had the game's lone interception, while Vincent Shavers Jr. forced a fumble that was recovered by Williams Nwaneri, as Nebraska had two takeaways in the game and did not commit a turnover itself.
Nebraska, which defeated a Power Four opponent in a season opener for the first time since 2003, improved to 1-0 while Cincinnati fell to 0-1.
The Huskers host their first home game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Akron at 6:30 p.m.