Bowman's interception helps Nebraska slip past Wake Forest

Sep 8, 2007, 20:28 GMT

Winston-Salem, NC - Zackary Bowman came up with a huge fourth-quarter interception of Brett Hodges, and 16th-ranked Nebraska survived to beat Wake Forest, 20-17.

Cornhuskers quarterback Sam Keller had a shaky outing, completing 24-of-41 passes for 258 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions for Nebraska (2-0), which will now focus its attention on next week's matchup with top-ranked USC.

Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan got the win after signing a new five-year contract on Tuesday that will keep him in Lincoln through the 2012 season.

Hodges, starting in place of injured starter Riley Skinner, completed just 12- of-24 passes for 140 yards for the Demon Deacons (0-2), who were looking to rebound from a 38-28 loss to Boston College.

Trailing by three with just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Wake Forest squandered a golden opportunity to at least tie the game. With the Cornhuskers buried in their own zone, the Demon Deacons got pressure on Keller and defensive tackle John Russell came up with the interception at the Nebraska 10-yard line.

However, after two Micah Andrews runs, Hodges tried to force a throw into double coverage on 3rd-and-goal as Bowman came up with the pick.

Wake Forest had one last chance with just under two minutes remaining after Nebraska failed to convert a 4th-and-2 on the Demon Deacons' 35-yard line.

Wake Forest, though, failed to take advantage. Ben Eisenhart's interception on 3rd-and-10 was overruled, but Hodges' fourth-down pass fell incomplete and Nebraska hung on for the win.

'When you are in these types of games where you are (on) the road and the pendulum swings back and forth, the important thing is how you adjust and how you respond as a football team,' said Callahan. 'I was really proud of how our team responded to get the win today.'

After a relatively quiet first half that saw Nebraska hold a 13-10 lead, the second half opened with a bang as both teams marched for touchdowns on their first possessions.

Wake Forest went first with an 87-yard, nine-play scoring drive. A 16-yard Andrews run brought the Demon Deacons to the Nebraska 47-yard line before Kenneth Moore broke off with a 38-yard scamper to the nine-yard line.

Three plays later, Moore scored from five-yards out to put Wake Forest up 17-13. Moore finished with 116 yards rushing on eight carries.

Not to be outdone, Nebraska quickly answered as Keller hit Terrence Nunn for a 30-yard reception to the Wake Forest 44-yard line. Then, shortly after Nebraska converted a 4th-and-1, Marlon Lucky scored on a 22-yard run to give the Cornhuskers a 20-17 advantage with 8:13 remaining in the third.

Kerry Major picked off Keller near midfield late in the third but Wake Forest failed to capitalize.

Nebraska struck first as Corey McKeon stepped in front of a Hodges pass on Wake Forest's opening possession of the game. The Cornhuskers had a 1st-and- goal on the Wake Forest five-yard line but had to settle for an Alex Henery 22-yard field goal.

A Nebraska turnover late in the first quarter helped Wake Forest get on the board. With just over a minute left to play in the stanza, Keller couldn't handle the snap and Zach Stukes fell on the ball for Wake Forest.

After converting a 4th-and-1 on the Nebraska 29-yard line on the first play of the second quarter, the Demon Deacons had a 1st-and-goal on the Cornhuskers' two-yard line. The Cornhuskers, however, sent Wake Forest backwards on three consecutive runs before Sam Swank kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie the game.

The Cornhuskers then responded with a nine-play, 62-yard drive to regain the lead on Henery's 22-yarder with 7:41 left in the half.

Wake Forest answered on its ensuing possession as Hodges hooked up with Kevin Marion, who dropped a sure touchdown in the first quarter, for a 61-yard reception down to the Nebraska one-yard line. It then took Hodges three attempts to push his away across the goal line to give the Demon Deacons a 10-6 lead with 5:13 remaining.

The Cornhuskers' offense, however, finally started to click as Keller orchestrated an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with Sean Hill's 25-yard touchdown reception with just 16 seconds left before the half.

Game Notes

Skinner suffered a slightly separated shoulder in last week's loss...Nebraska has won all three meetings with Wake Forest...NBA Rookie of the Year and Wake Forest graduate Chris Paul attended the game.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.