SAN DIEGO, Calif. - No. 20 Nebraska showed it was more than two ranking spots ahead of No. 22 Arizona by throttling the Wildcats, 33-0, in the Holiday Bowl.
After developing a reputation for high-scoring games and crazy finishes, the bowl got the first shutout in its 32-year history. Zac Lee threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to Niles Paul in the third quarter to highlight the win, but it was only one moment in a dominating effort.Â
The coaches expected a defensive game, and the Huskers delivered, earning their first shutout in 46 bowl appearances, plus held UA to 109 net yards. Arizona quarterback Nick Foles was harassed all night and had one of his toughest outings of the year, finishing with nine completions in 30 attempts, for a miniscule 48 yards.
The Wildcats had the ball fourth-and-3 at the Nebraska 8-yard line with 1:41 to go, and eschewed a field goal, with safety P.J. Smith batting down Foles’ pass to preserve the shutout. Nebraska free safety Matt O’Hanlon intercepted Foles on the third play from scrimmage and returned it 37 yards to the Arizona 5. Lee scored on a four-yard run two plays later. It was the fastest score in Holiday Bowl history, coming just 75 seconds in.
Nebraska (10-4) got its first 10-win season since 2003. Nebraska’s Alex Henery set a Holiday Bowl record with four field goals, from 47, 50, 41 and 22 yards. Arizona finished 8-5. NU coach Bo Pelini earned bragging rights in Youngstown, Ohio, where he and UA coach Mike Stoops grew up and played at Cardinal Mooney High.
