LINCOLN, Neb. – Ohio hung tough into the fourth quarter before Nebraska put away a 49-21 victory in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Frank Solich performed the coin toss before the game between the two schools he coached, and early, and the Bobcats held a lead for much of the first half before the Cornhuskers took over, especially over the final 10 minutes with three straight touchdowns to close it out when it was a seven-point game.

“I was really proud of the way we played the first about 35, 36 minutes,” Ohio coach John Hauser said. “We fought, we battled, we were down one at the half.”

In his first season as a starter, Nick Poulos made some plays for the Bobcats, especially throwing to Riley Neer. Neer took a catch down the middle of the field 68 yards to set up his own 4-yard touchdown catch that gave Ohio a 7-0 lead.

“It's a great opener,” Poulos said. “Obviously, it's hard to beat that. (I) would have loved to not see him get chased down, but it's great when you see someone (succeed) who's worked their tail off.”

The Bobcats led 13-7 after field goals of 42 and 45 yards from Will Hryszko, and after 21 straight Nebraska points, it was just a 28-21 game after Poulos scored on a 1-yard run and then threw a two-point conversion pass to Dom Dorwart with 12:05 remaining.

Nebraska answered back right away, however, with a 51-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea to Mekhi Nelson. Jamal Rule added an 11-yard touchdown run, and Colandrea threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Kwazi Gilmer to close it out with 1:53 remaining.

The Cornhuskers answered the Bobcats’ early touchdown by scoring on their first possession, converting three third downs, including one on a late hit. Rule capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that made it 7-7.

After Ohio scored field goals on its next two possessions, Nebraska took the lead for good with a Colandrea 24-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-4 play and then extra point with 8:13 left in the first half.

The Bobcats had a shot to take the lead back on a couple of occasions. They got a turnover on downs at their own 45-yard line with 40 seconds left in the second quarter but could not move into field goal range, and instead, Poulos’ hail Mary pass at the end of the half went through the end zone.

The Cornhuskers went backward on their first possession of the second half, leading to the Bobcats taking over near midfield after a punt. They did not take advantage, though, and Hryszko missed a potential go-ahead field goal from 44 yard out.

From then on, Nebraska’s offense was nearly unstoppable. Colandrea scored on a 13-yard run to make it 21-13, and Mekhi Nelson ran for a 29-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to put the margin at 15 points.

Ohio did not go away, though, with a successful drive that ended with Poulos’ touchdown run. He was not ready for the snap on the two-point conversion but picked up the ball that bounced off of his shoulder and immediately slung it to Dorwart to make it a seven-point game.
Nebraska’s answer was quick and it finally put the game away after that.

Poulos went 14-of-31 passing for 164 yards and rushed 10 times for 70 yards. Neer caught six passes for 104 yards, but it was tough to get the running backs going. Duncan Brune was held to 32 yards on nine carries.

Colandrea was even more dynamic, going 18-of-32 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns and also rushing 10 times for 23 yards, though that number was hurt by 31 sack yards. Rule rushed 15 times for 122 yards and Nelson 10 times for 64 yards.

Isaac Anderson had a pair of sacks for Ohio’s defense.

The Bobcats face Jacksonville State in their home opener at 6 p.m. Saturday at Peden Stadium.