Tag: Timmy Bleekrode

Nebraska football takes down Louisiana Tech 28-14

The Nebraska football team hosted its second game of the season on Saturday afternoon.

The Nebraska football team hosted its second game of the season on Saturday afternoon. After taking down Northern Illinois to improve to 1-2, the Huskers welcomed in Louisiana Tech. Though Nebraska snatched win number two for the 2023 season, it was closer than last week’s victory, walking away with a 28-14 win.

Heinrich Haarberg started for Nebraska for the second straight week and led the Huskers both in the pass and ground games. Haarberg went 8-of-17 in the air for 107 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 157 yards and one touchdown off 19 carries. Haarberg’s touchdown run came off a huge 72-yard option, which put Nebraska up 28-7 with over 11 minutes to go in the game.

Anthony Grant and Thomas Fidone II also found their way into the endzone for the second straight week. Grant scored on the ground off a two-yard run, adding to his 135-yard rushing on the day. Fidone had only one catch in the game but made a big one, scoring a 29-yard touchdown.

Billy Kemp IV finished as the top receiver for the Huskers, hauling in five catches for 62 yards. Kemp also scored Nebraska’s first touchdown of the game off a jet sweep, which came after a fake field goal by the Huskers. Louisiana Tech responded quickly to the score, running in for a touchdown on its next drive.

Nebraska’s defense, however, delivered another big showing in the run game, holding the Bulldogs to 46 total yards. The Huskers did surrender 292 passing yards, 146 of them coming in the fourth quarter, which led to Louisiana Tech’s second touchdown. Another significant factor in the game was the Bulldogs’ penalties. Louisiana Tech surrendered 12 penalties for 100 yards, which halted many of its drives and even kept some of Nebraska’s drives alive.

The Huskers improve to 2-2 on the season but face a significant task next week as they welcome in No. 2 Michigan. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and can be viewed on FOX.

Nebraska to announce starting kicker Tuesday

Nebraska has yet to name a starting kicker for the season opener at Minnesota.

Nebraska has yet to name a starting kicker for the season opener at Minnesota. Junior Timmy Bleekrode and freshman Tristan Alvano are battling the top position on the depth chart.

Special teams coach Ed Foley said that head coach Matt Rhule will name the starter on Tuesday.

I have a good idea of who it’s going to be, but I’m going to let coach talk about that position tomorrow from a final standpoint of the decision. We still have one more day, and we’re going to look at a couple of things. We’ve got it down to where we need it to be.

Last season, Bleekrode went 9 of 12 on-field goals while converting 34 of 35 extra-point attempts. Alvano made headlines earlier this year when he went five-for-five on field goals in Omaha Westside’s 43-41 win over Gretna in the NSAA State Championship game.

During his senior year, Alvano was 16-20 in field goals with a career-long of 57 yards. He also received scholarship offers from the Air Force, Army, and Boston College.

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Nebraska’s kicker position still undecided

When Nebraska released their first team depth chart late last week, one of the surprising notes was the kicker position.

When Nebraska released their first team depth chart late last week, one of the surprising notes was the kicker position. That position lists two potential starters.

Junior Timmy Bleekrode and freshman Tristan Alvano are listed on the depth chart.

“I think it’s just over the next couple days. We’ll obviously have Sunday and we’ll be in full pads. We’ll kick again there. As I said, (Brian) Buschini was going with the ones and Tristan (Alvano) was going with the ones. Coming to Sunday we’ll have one more day of competition. Just for me the depth chart is an organism. It’s ever-changing. I’m not a big ‘set it in stone’ kind of guy. We’re going to play guys and the competition is always there and you have the power to change your situation. That’ll kind of be a weekly thing.”

Last season, Bleekrode went 9 of 12 on field goals while converting 34 of 35 extra point attempts. Alvano made headlines earlier this year when he went five-for-five on field goals in Omaha Westside’s 43-41 win over Gretna in the NSAA State Championship game.

During his senior year, Alvano was 16-20 in field goals with a career-long of 57 yards. He also received scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, and Boston College.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinion.

2022 Husker Breakdown: Special teams primed for 180-degree turn

Nebraska’s special teams have been a problem for years but read why the group plans to be much better in 2022.

Our final position group preview before the 2022 Nebraska football season kick off against Northwestern, the Huskers’ specialists were the epitome of brutality. To address the poor play, defensive analyst Bill Busch was brought into a new role as Nebraska’s special teams coordinator, a position that has not been its own separate entity for the Cornhuskers since 2016. 

Anything better than mediocre would be a big improvement from the last few years and with Busch’s hiring to go with the services of a few proven transfers, Nebraska special teams could get themselves out from under the magnifying glass.