Missed opportunities were the theme at Ryan Field during the Northwestern University Wildcats loss to the Nebraska University Cornhuskers on Oct. 20.

The Wildcats caused several turnovers but only generated seven points from the Cornhuskers’ three giveaways. Northwestern ultimately lost to Nebraska 29-28.

“I thought we battled [and] gave ourselves a chance to win and down the stretch we just didn’t make one more play we needed to make,” said Wildcats’ head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter credited his team’s lack of execution to the Wildcats not being able to gain a rhythm on offense. The Wildcats’ fist three drives of the game ended with a punt following only three plays.

“Offense for me is all about getting in a rhythm and its tough to get into a rhythm when you’re going three and out and not converting first downs.” Colter said.

The Wildcats only moved the chains 14 times compared to the Cornhuskers, who converted on 26 seperate occasions.

Nebraska trailed 28-16 with less than nine minutes remaining before the Cornhuskers mounted their comeback. Quarterback Taylor Martinez led Nebraska on two back to back drives of over 75 yards, both resulting in touchdown passes. His connection in the end zone with tight end Ben Cotton capped the Cornhuskers victory.

Following the touchdown, Northwestern drove the ball down the field and were in field goal range for kicker Jeff Budzien. With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Budzien missed his first field goal of the season from 54-yards. The kick had the distance but sailed right.

“I feel pretty good with [Budzien] especially with there being no wind really in the building,” Fitzpatrick said.

The Wildcats also missed out on multiple opportunities to exploit the Cornhuskers’ man-to-man coverage. Nebraska lined up nine men into the box to stop Northwestern’s explosive running attack, resulting in only 180 yards rushing for the Wildcats.

“If they’re going to go out there and play one-on-one we’ve got to take advantage of it, and we just have to make those plays as we move forward,” Fitzpatrick said.

The loss drops the Wildcats to 6-2 on the season and 2-2 in Big Ten Conference play. This is the second time this season Northwestern failed to hold on to a lead in the fourth quarter. The first came against the Penn State University Nittany Lions on Oct. 6.

Fitzpatrick and his team now prepare for Oct. 27 when the Iowa University Hawkeyes visit Evanston for the Wildcats’ homecoming game at 11 am.

“If we play the way we’re capable of we’ll still be in that conversation for [Big Ten champions],” Colter said.

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