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LINCOLN — Nebraska's spring game ended with a 25-21 win for the White team over the Red squad Saturday. Husker coach Matt Rhule set the expectation of a "Red-White shootout," and that came to fruition in the first half. With quarterbacks rotating through both offenses, true freshman Dylan Raiola threw two touchdowns, as did Heinrich Haarberg. The Red squad held a 21-14 lead at intermission. However, with a running clock and a few more quarterbacks thrown in for the second half, the White team scored the final 11 points off a touchdown, two-point conversion and field goal. A pleasant Saturday morning inside Memorial Stadium is featured a few turnovers, a couple punts and a good amount of scoring against a defense resting a variety of veteran starters.Strong first impressions from Raiola
The true freshman and former five-star quarterback prospect completed all four of his passes for 42 yards while leading the Red team on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in his spring debut. A short swing pass to Thomas Fidone for 14 yards. A quick pass to Jaylen Lloyd for 7. His first scoring throw — a 16-yarder to a diving Janiran Bonner on a corner route — had the touch and timing largely absence from the Husker offense a year ago.
Raiola's best throw came on his next drive with the Whites, a 22-yarder to Alex Bullock on a post into a tight window. He later hit Isaiah Neyor on a 14-yard crosser before dropping a deep ball into the breadbasket of a streaking Lloyd downfield for a 64-yard score.
A first-quarter interception went off the hands of Demitrius Bell on a short pass into the hands of defensive back Ethan Nation.
Raiola unofficially threw for 239 yards in the first half. His day finished with a successful, somewhat risky two-point conversion throw which floated past defenders and into the hands of Bullock.
Bell — the redshirt freshman who wowed the Huskers on the scout team last fall — was carted off the field midway through the second quarter with an apparent knee injury. So was starting cornerback Blye Hill a few minutes later as he fell to the field without contact.
One half of a scrimmage suggests Nebraska has more wideout depth than it has in years. Lloyd gained separation on his deep-ball score with blazing straight-line speed. Freshman Jacory Barney carried over a strong spring to the scrimmage — his highlight was an over-the-shoulder grab of a Heinrich Haarberg pass for a 41-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Bullock looked a step quicker as the position's resident veteran. Neyor was a frequent target. Fellow transfer Jahmal Banks didn't catch a first-half pass yet remained active with the first-team offense. One of Nebraska's most productive receivers last season, Malachi Coleman, watched from the sidelines recovering from an offseason procedure.
Barney's biggest moment was nearly a long return that instead went down for 78 yards in the second quarter. The speeder was taken to the turf by — of all people — kicker Tristan Alvano. Barney may or may not have thought that the gray-jerseyed Alvano was part of his White squad.
The third unit wasn't entirely "live" but still didn't inspire supreme confidence. Alvano pulled a 32-yard field-goal try wide line late in the half and missed another from 44 yards out at the horn.
He finished his day strong, though, hitting adding to the White team lead with a made 40-yarder in the final quarter.
Punter Brian Buschini flashed mixed results ahead of his third season as a Husker. The Barney kickoff return — was it Barney or a coverage bust?
The first half was mostly dominated by the passing game, with transfer running back Dante Dowdell providing the lone score on the ground in a short-yardage situation.
The former Duck then highlighted the scrimmage after halftime. As the offenses slowed down, Dowdell took advantage of great blocking for a 48-yard touchdown run. He showed off his physicality on one of his last runs of the day, powering through some tacklers for a solid gain.
After Alvano's field goal marked the final score of the day, both teams were apparently ordered to sprint to the other sideline and back.
The game ended fairly quietly after that.
Sam McKewon, with the Omaha World-Herald, breaks down the Nebraska spring football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Nebraska's Thomas Fidone II full press conference following spring game
Nebraska's Matt Rhule full press conference following spring game
Nebraska's Maurice Mazzccua (33) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska's D'Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule motions during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Blye Hill (23) is evaluated for an injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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The Nebraska offensive and defensive lines line up during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Ollie Clark, 7, throws a football prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska players take the field for the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Fans hold up their shoes for the kickoff of the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) makes a catch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) hands the ball off to Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball past D'Andre Barnes (35) and Micah Mazzccua (56) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) fakes the handoff during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) looks to throw during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska fans watch on during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Kwinten Ives (28) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (89) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (89) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (89) is tackled by Nebraska's Tristan Alvano (30) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Demitrius Bell (11) is carted off the field after an apparent injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Blye Hill (23) is evaluated for an injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Maurice Mazzccua (33) runs the ball against Ethan Nation (28) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Stefon Thompson (56) blocks Nebraska's Willis McGahee IV (17) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) takes the snap during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule stands on the field during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Luke Longval (19) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Rex Guthrie (12) stops Keelan Smith (86) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska's D'Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska's D'Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Sam Sledge (62), Nebraska's Justin Evans (51) and Nebraska's Jacob Brandl (78) warm up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska fans walk around outside Memorial Stadium prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska fans walk towards Memorial Stadium prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Annabell Richter, 10, throws a football prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska co-offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas watches warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Kwinten Ives (28) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Thomas Fidone II (24) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule watches warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jack Woche (17) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) and Daniel Kaelin (12) warm up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule reacts during warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dwight Bootle II (21) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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