The running back finished with 98 all-purpose yards in the win over the Boilermakers. That was the plan for Nebraska running backs in the second half after a tough first two quarters in which that position totaled 10 carries for 21 yards. Emmett Johnson had just one of those carries, but he was ready if they called his number in the second half. They did. Right from the start. He responded. Right from the start.
«I don’t know when my name is going to be called, but I just know when I go out there I’m going to play my hardest and help this team win. Most importantly, make winning plays,» Johnson said following Nebraska’s 28-10 win over Purdue. «Because I know we can get down sometimes when things happen so I know I have to be that spark for this team to win.»
A spark is exactly what Dylan Raiola called Emmett Johnson’s second-half work in the postgame room. The running back showed off his vision and moves to accumulate 50 rushing yards on eight carries and 48 more yards on three catches. Runs of three yards, then eight, then a nifty nine in which he redirected his route. Those came from Johnson on Nebraska’s first touchdown drive which finally got the Huskers on the board with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.
He kept it going in the last frame, including claiming Nebraska a first down on a screen pass on a second-and-28 when it was 14-3 and the Huskers were looking to put the game to bed.
«I think Emmett made some big-time plays, making some guys miss,» said Husker head coach Matt Rhule. «Then after we had the block in the back and then I got the 15-yarder, he comes out on the screen and he’s pushing the O-linemen to get to get them going forward.»
Rhule highlighted that play and the fourth-and-1 goal line score by Dante Dowdell, with a big block from Barret Liebentritt, among the key moments to pull away in a close game.
«Just proud of those guys. And Jacory (Barney) obviously gave us a real lift on offense with some of those speed sweeps and the reverses,» Rhule said. «When he’s out there people are defending us differently because of his speed and his explosiveness.»
The true freshman receiver Barney ended up Nebraska’s leading rusher with 66 yards on four carries and a 25-yard touchdown. Tack on 28 yards on two catches to that total for him. But at the running back position specifically, Johnson definitely got the line moving.
«Just treating my life like a sponge, man. Just getting out of it what I put in,» he said. «Every single day in practice I go out there and compete. I’m always ready for my opportunity. So today was just going out there and showing it. Having faith in God and just being myself.»
After a slow start, save for Barney getting to the edge on the aforementioned speed sweep plays, Nebraska finished with 161 rushing yards and averaged 5.0 per carry. NU knocked out Purdue for good with 77 rushing yards in the fourth quarter – 27 more than the Boilermakers offense had all game. One thing that stuck out to Johnson is that his teammates weren’t down in the dumps at halftime despite not scoring.
«When it’s 0-0 and you’re not scoring and things aren’t going well, a lot of teams shut down,» Johnson said. «But I just think that shows how this team has grown during the years. And we were all confident coming out at halftime … It was just playing Nebraska football…
«I was glad in the second half everyone kept fighting and in the fourth quarter you’re seeing Nebraska football.»