Shutout; Lawdawgs Cruise To 39-0 Triumph Over Knights

A stout defensive performance led the Nebraska Lawdawg football team to a 39-0 victory over the Northern Iowa Knights Saturday at Warrior Field.

"We are really happy," said Lawdawg coach Jordan Taylor. "This is the closest we've gotten to 60 minutes of football. The guys out there tonight earned this win."

A fourth-down conversion on each of the first two drives kept the Lawdawgs offense going and both drives resulted in scores.

Eli Schreier plowed through a few would-be tacklers for an 11-yard touchdown run.

​Following a three-and-out by the Knights, Nebraska quarterback Tyler Habrock scrambled for a seven-yard score. 

"It makes a huge difference when you go out there and sock it to them right away," Schreier said. "It really demoralizes the other team and it got us and the momentum going. It's what we try to do every week."

The Lawdawgs has several chances to extend their lead, but either the drive stalled or Nebraska turned the ball over.

The Lawdawg defense stood tall despite the offense’s struggles, holding the Northern Iowa offense to 69 total yards in the first half.

"One time we turned the ball over and I heard one of those guys (a Knight player) say that's a momentum changer," Taylor said. "Unfortunately for them,  it was just three plays and out." 

The Knights opened up the second half with a promising drive, but a fumble recovery by Logan Lawson ended the threat.

On the ensuing play, Schreier broke free for a 35-yard TD.

Northern Iowa responded with a 34-yard pass to get into Nebraska territory, but the Dawgs forced a turnover on downs.

Nebraska put the game away with a 14-play, 65 yard drive resulting in a four-yard Schreier touchdown.

Spencer Volden scored the final two TDs. The first on a four-yard run and the second on a 44-yard pick-six.
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"It was good to get a shutout and the team played well," Schreier said. "It was good to finally play four quarters and dominate a team. We haven't dominated a team like that all season. We are looking forward to running the table and taking this momentum into the playoffs."

Schreier led the Dawgs with 185 yards rushing and three scores. Volden and Habrock each scored a rushing touchdown as well.

"The offensive line is definitely the MVP tonight," Schreier said. "They made me and the whole team look good. If we can do that every week, we'd be undefeated. It is what we strive for. We're a power team first and foremost. The team played well tonight, especially the offensive line."

The Nebraska defense was stout in the shutout. The Dawgs gave up 137 yards of total offense to Northern Iowa and forced two turnovers.

"We shut their running game and passing game down," Taylor said. "It was like a Lawdawg game of old. We used to hold guys under 50 yards rushing every night. We have been working hard on that (run defense) the past few weeks because we were getting pushed around and we're not used to that. We came through with the shutout, the first for this group."

Nebraska (4-2) looks to extend its win streak to four Saturday at the Northern Iowa Bulldogs at 7 p.m.

​"If we travel heavy, come out and play, we have a chance to get it done," Taylor said.