Game 5 recap: at #21 Nebraska

This week Texas traveled up to Lincoln for their annual Big 12 battle with Nebraska. The Braska faithful were rocking the stadium and Gilbert was seen on the sideline pre-game pacing nervously.

Braska gets the ball and drives down the field, mostly on the strength of a beautifully executed play action pass, but in the redzone Helu fumbles the ball and Texas takes over. Well, not to be outdone, Texas too drives down into Neb territory and looks like they are going to score when Whitacker fumbles the ball right back to Neb.

Scoreless, Braska and Texas then trade field goal scoring drives to make it 3-3 with about 5 minutes left in the first half. Braska ges down to the goalline and on 3rd and goal from the 9 yard line Martinez trys to throw a slant route that my safety jumps and picks off, however, with his momentum carrying him into the endzone, before he can make a move he gets hit and fumbles right back to Braska, who recovers for the fluke TD to make it 10-3 with 5 minutes left. Texas answers, and after a big pass to Williams, DJ Monroe scores on a wonderfully executed shotgun draw play from 38 yards out to tie it up. Braska goes three and out and Texas is able to kick a field goal as time expires to go up 13-10 before half.

The third quarter is mainly a punt fest, with the exception of another Braska fumble in Texas territory. WIth the third quarter about to end DJ Monroe scores again on a Power 0 run to the short side of the field from about 40 yards out, showing off his big play ability once again and pretty much slapping his coaches in the face for not getting more touches. This makes the game 20-10. In the fourth, Braska gets stopped in the texas red zone and settles for a field goal but never seens the ball again as Texas and their strong running attack kill the rest of the clock, ended with an overjoyed Gilbert kneeling the ball with 30 seconds left.

I believe Helu became the first opposing back this year to top 100 yards rushing on this defense.

Whittacker had 79 yards on 22 carries, no TDs
Monroe had 154 yards on 17 carries, and 2 TDs/

Gilbert goes another game without a turnover and the Longhorns are on a three game winning streak!