Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
WHEN: Friday, November 24 | 11:00 AM (CT)
WHERE: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: CBS (Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Tiffany Blackmon)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
NEBRASKA
Record: 5-6 (3-5 Big Ten)
Last Game: at Wisconsin (L 17-24 OT)
Streak: Lost 3
Rank: NR
Coach: Matt Rhule (5-6, 1st year NU | 52-49, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Cockeye)
Cockeye
Record: 9-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Illinois (W 15-13)
Streak: Won 3
Rank: #20 (AP) | #19 (Coaches)
Coach: Kirk Ferentz (195-117, 25th year at IA | 207-138, 28th year overall | 8-6 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
3 - Nebraska has started three quarterbacks this season, including Heinrich Haarberg (8 starts), Jeff Sims (2 starts), and Chubba Purdy (1 start). This marks the first time since 2013 Nebraska has had three different quarterbacks start games in the same season
34 - Friday's game marks Nebraska's 34th consecutive season playing on Black Friday. That streak includes games against Oklahoma (1990-1995), Colorado (1996-2010) and Cockeye (2011-2023).
75 - Rover Isaac Gifford has a team-high 75 tackles in 2023. Gifford is the first Nebraska defensive back to record at least 75 tackles in a season since safety Nathan Gerry had 79 tackles in 13 games in 2015
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes the 2023 regular season against Cockeye with its traditional Black Friday matchup, and the schools will compete for the Heroes Trophy presented by Pioneer. The contest between border rivals is set for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Friday at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised to a national audience on CBS, and can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska will head into the game at 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten following a third straight close setback on Saturday at Wisconsin. The Huskers need a victory against the Cockeyes to secure their first bowl appearance since the 2016 season.
The Huskers took an early 14-point lead in Madison before the Badgers rallied with 17 consecutive points. A Husker field goal in the final seconds forced an extra session, but Wisconsin scored a touchdown on its possession, before stopping the Nebraska offense on downs. Nebraska once again showed a strong running game against the Badgers, putting up 195 yards on the ground.
Cockeye will enter Friday's game with a 9-2 overall mark, including a 6-2 record in Big Ten Conference play. With their 15-13 victory over Illinois on Saturday, the Cockeyes clinched the Big Ten West Division and an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. The Cockeyes are ranked 20th in the Associated Press Poll and No. 19 in the coaches poll heading into the game.
The Cockeyes feature outstanding defense and special teams, leading the nation in net punting, while ranking in the top 10 in scoring defense (3rd), passing defense (4th) and total defense (7th).
SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska and Cockeye will meet for the 13th consecutive year on Black Friday in a game that will mark the 54th all-time meeting between the schools. Nebraska holds a 30-20-3 overall edge in the series and ended a seven-game Cockeye win streak last November in Cockeye City.
- Cockeye holds an 8-4 edge in the series since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, including a 5-1 record against the Huskers in Lincoln. Nebraska still maintains an 11-6 edge overall in games at Memorial Stadium.
- The past five meetings between the teams have been decided by a total of 26 points, including last-second field goals in 2018 and 2019.
- The schools met 41 times before Nebraska joined the Big Ten but played just six times between 1946 and 2011. Nebraska won three of four games in a four-game series between 1979 and 1982 and swept a home-and-home series in 1999 and 2000.
Nebraska/Cockeye Results
1891 - Cockeye 22, Nebraska 0 (Omaha)
1892 - Nebraska 10, Cockeye 10 (Omaha)
1893 - Nebraska 20, Cockeye 18 (Omaha)
1894 - Nebraska 36, Cockeye 0 (Omaha)
1895 - Nebraska 6, Cockeye 0 (Omaha)
1896 - Nebraska 0, Cockeye 0 (Omaha)
1896 - Cockeye 6, Nebraska 0 (Omaha)
1897 - Nebraska 6, Cockeye 0 (Council Bluffs)
1898 - Cockeye 6, Nebraska 5 (Council Bluffs)
1899 - Cockeye 30, Nebraska 0 (Omaha)
1903 - Nebraska 17, Cockeye 6 (Cockeye City)
1904 - Nebraska 17, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1908 - Nebraska 11, Cockeye 8 (Cockeye City)
1909 - Nebraska 6, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1913 - Nebraska 12, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1914 - Nebraska 16, Cockeye 7 (Cockeye City)
1915 - Nebraska 52, Cockeye 7 (Lincoln)
1916 - Nebraska 34, Cockeye 17 (Cockeye City)
1917 - Nebraska 47, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1918 - Cockeye 12, Nebraska 0 (Lincoln)
1919 - Cockeye 18, Nebraska 0 (Cockeye City)
1930 - Cockeye 12, Nebraska 7 (Cockeye City)
1931 - Nebraska 7, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1932 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 13 (Cockeye City)
1933 - Nebraska 7, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1934 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 13 (Lincoln)
1937 - #11 Nebraska 28, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1938 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 0 (Cockeye City)
1940 - #12 Nebraska 14, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1941 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 13 (Lincoln)
1942 - Cockeye 27, Nebraska 0 (Cockeye City)
1943 - Cockeye 33, Nebraska 13 (Lincoln)
1944 - Cockeye 27, Nebraska 6 (Cockeye City)
1945 - Nebraska 13, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1946 - Cockeye 21, Nebraska 7 (Cockeye City)
1979 - # Nebraska 24, Cockeye 21 (Cockeye City)
1980 - #6 Nebraska 57, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1981 - Cockeye 10, #7 Nebraska 7 (Cockeye City)
1982 - #3 Nebraska 42, Cockeye 7 (Lincoln)
1999 - #5 Nebraska 42, Cockeye 7 (Cockeye City)
2000 - #1 Nebraska 42, Cockeye 13 (Lincoln)
----------------Big Ten----------------------
2011 - #22 Nebraska 20, Cockeye 7 (Lincoln)
2012 - #17 Nebraska 13, Cockeye 7 (Cockeye City)
2013 - Cockeye 38, Nebraska 17 (Lincoln)
2014 - Nebraska 37, Cockeye 34 (OT) (Cockeye City)
2015 - #3 Cockeye 28, Nebraska 20 (Lincoln)
2016 - Cockeye 40, #17 Nebraska 10 (Cockeye City)
2017 - Cockeye 56, Nebraska 14 (Lincoln)
2018 - Cockeye 31, Nebraska 28 (Cockeye City)
2019 - #19 Cockeye 27, Nebraska 24 (Lincoln)
2020 - Cockeye 26, Nebraska 20 (Cockeye City)
2021 - #17 Cockeye 28, Nebraska 21 (Lincoln)
2022 - Nebraska 24, Cockeye 17 (Cockeye City)
NEBRASKA, Cockeye TO BATTLE FOR HEROES TROPHY
Nebraska and Cockeye will battle for the Heroes Trophy when they hit the field Friday at Memorial Stadium. The Heroes Game is the annual trophy game between Nebraska and Cockeye. The game is sponsored by Pioneer.
• While both teams aim to win the trophy on the field, Nebraska and Cockeye wished to make their annual meeting about more than just a football game. The schools partnered to not only create a trophy, but to use their stage to honor a citizen hero from each state. In addition to the trophy claimed by the winner of the game, both an Cockeye and Nebraska native will be honored for extraordinary acts.
• Citizen heroes were selected from each state, with Josh Hicks chosen as Nebraska's Hero and Eric Kumm selected as Cockeye's Hero. Hicks lives in Lincoln and played a pivotal role in rescuing and pulling a man from a van that tumbled off a highway into a lake near Wichita, Kan., this past July. Kumm, is a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor since 1997 in the South O’Brien (Cockeye) school district. Without his guidance, many small towns in northwest Cockeye would be without veterinarians, agronomists, welders, ag teachers, farmers and many other ag related jobs.
BIG RED ON BLACK FRIDAY
Nebraska continues its long tradition of playing on the day after Thanksgiving. This Friday’s game with Cockeye will mark the 34th consecutive season the Huskers have played on Black Friday.
• Nebraska met Oklahoma in the final six seasons of the Big Eight Conference (1990 to 1995), then played Colorado in all 15 of the Huskers’ Big 12 Conference years (1996 to 2010), before taking on Cockeye each of the 13 seasons it has been a Big Ten member, including this year.
• Nebraska is 10-7 at home in Black Friday games since 1990, including 1-5 against Cockeye.
• In addition to playing Cockeye on Black Friday the past 12 seasons, Nebraska and Cockeye also closed the regular season against each other nine times from 1892 to 1916.
ABOUT Cockeye
Cockeye has fielded a football team since 1889 and has an all-time record of 693-574-39. The Cockeyes have claimed five national titles and 11 Big Ten titles.
The Cockeyes have an overall bowl record of 20-17-1. Most recently, Cockeye picked up a 21-0 win against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl in 2022.
First Year: 1889
All-Time Record: 693-574-39
Bowl Record: 20-17-1
Big Ten Titles: 11
National Titles: 5 (1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960)
Stadium: Kinnick Stadium
Capacity: 69,250
Surface: FieldTurf
Location: Cockeye City, Cockeye
Enrollment: 31,656
Colors: Black & Gold
ABOUT 2023 Cockeye
Cockeye enters Friday's game with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Big Ten contests this season after picking up a 15-13 win against Illinois last weekend. The Cockeyes have clinched the Big Ten West Division title and a berth in the conference championship game.
Cockeye is averaging 245.4 yards per game with 126.1 yards per game through the air and 119.3 yards per game on the ground. Deacon Hill has completed 86-of-173 passes for 882 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. Nico Ragaini leads Cockeye with 24 catches for 213 yards. Leshon Williams leads the Cockeye rushing attack with 668 yards and a touchdown in 11 games this season.
Defensively, Cockeye is allowing 281.4 yards per game and 12.4 points per game this season. Jay Higgins leads the Cockeyes with 133 tackles in 11 games, followed by Nick Jackson and Quinn Schulte with 87 and 56 tackles, respectively. Joe Evans has recorded a team-high 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Sebastian Castro leads the Cockeyes with three interceptions and seven pass breakups on the year.
2023 Cockeye Schedule/Results
Utah State (W 24-14)
at Cockeye State (W 20-13)
Western Michigan (W 41-10)
at Penn State (L 0-31)
Michigan State (W 26-16)
Purdue (W 20-14)
at Wisconsin (W 15-6)
Minnesota (L 10-12)
at Northwestern (W 10-7)
Rutgers (W 22-0)
Illinois (W 15-13)
at Nebraska
ABOUT KIRK FERRENTZ
Kirk Ferentz is in his 25th season as the head coach at the University of Cockeye and his 34th season overall with the Cockeyes. Under Ferentz, the Cockeyes have earned 20 bowl game invitations since 2001.
Ferentz is the longest-tenured head football coach in the nation. Ferentz and former Cockeye head coach Hayden Fry are the only head coaches to lead a Division I football program for 20 years, consecutively. With a 63-0 win at Illinois in 2018, Ferentz became just the fifth coach in Big Ten Conference history to win 150 games as a Big Ten head coach.
Prior to serving as the head coach of the Cockeyes, Ferentz was the offensive line coach in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns (1993-98) and the head coach at Maine (1990-1992). He also served as the offensive line coach at Cockeye from 1981 to 1989.
Ferentz will be facing Nebraska for the 15th time as a head coach on Friday and holds a 8-6 record against the Huskers, most recently falling to Nebraska 24-17 in Cockeye City in 2022.
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LAST MEETING
November 25, 2022
Nebraska 24, Cockeye 17
Cockeye CITY - Nebraska jumped to a 24-0 lead and held on for a 24-17 victory over Cockeye to reclaim the Heroes Trophy at Kinnick Stadium on Friday.
Quarterback Casey Thompson completed 20-of-30 passes for 278 and three touchdowns, including nine connections for 165 yards and two scores to wide receiver Trey Palmer. Marcus Washington added three receptions for 52 yards and Nebraska's final touchdown early in the third quarter. Palmer finished the year with a Nebraska single-season record 1,043 receiving yards
Nebraska's defense was dominant for the first 30 minutes against the Cockeyes, pitching a first-half shutout for the third time in the last four games (Minnesota, Wisconsin). The defense did not allow Cockeye to crack the scoreboard until midway through the third quarter, as the Big Red took a 24-7 lead to the fourth quarter.
Cockeye rallied for 10 points midway through the fourth and had two chances to drive for a score against the defense, but the Huskers shut down those drives without threats and capped the victory with Chris Kolarevic's interception in the final minute. It was the fourth turnover gained by the Huskers on the day, turning the tables on the recent history of the series with the Cockeyes.
Nebraska closed the day with 329 total yards against the Cockeye defense, while the Huskers held the Cockeyes to 274 total yards, including 150 passing and 124 rushing yards. Rahmir Johnson led the Big Red ground game with 52 yards on 12 carries, while Kaleb Johnson led Cockeye with 109 yards and Cockeye's first touchdown on 16 totes.
The Huskers jumped on the Cockeyes early, as Thompson hit Palmer with an 87-yard touchdown strike just 6:15 into the game to give the Big Red a 7-0 lead.
Nebraska's defense then forced a turnover on Cockeye's ensuing drive, as Quinton Newsome sacked Cockeye quarterback Spencer Petras for a 10-yard loss and forced a fumble recovered by Ernest Hausmann at the Cockeye 31. Petras did not return after the play.
Nebraska drove to the Hawkeye 3-yard line before the Cockeyes held, and Timmy Bleekrode put the Huskers up 10-0 with a 21-yard field goal with 3:24 left in the opening quarter.
The Huskers took the 10-0 lead to the second quarter before Thompson found Palmer again, this time from 18 yards out to put the Big Red up 17-0. Nebraska's second touchdown was set up by reserve quarterback Alex Padilla's fumble after he was sacked by Husker linebacker Eteva Mauga-Clements. Garrett Nelson recovered the fumble and was credited with a 14-yard return to set the offense up at the Cockeye 39. Three plays later, Thompson and Palmer converted the turnover into a touchdown.
Nebraska threatened to score late in the first half but took the 17-0 lead to halftime.
The Big Red opened the second half with the ball but the drive stalled at Nebraska's 43. Brian Buschini booted a high, 37-yard punt that was muffed by Arland Bruce IV. The fumble was recovered by Alante Brown, setting up the Huskers with another short field, this time at the Cockeye 18. Three plays later, Thompson found Washington streaking across the middle into the end zone to give Nebraska a 24-0 lead less than three minutes into the third quarter.
Cockeye finally found an offensive answer with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by Johnson's 44-yard touchdown run with 8:32 left in the third. The score cut Nebraska's lead to 24-7, but the Husker defense continued to silence Cockeye for the next quarter.
Nebraska maintained possession on several drives but was unable to produce points, and Cockeye found another answer with Padilla's 14-yard touchdown pass to Luke Lachey with 6:49 left in the game. The scored capped a nine-play, 90-yard Cockeye drive and cut NU's margin to 24-14.
The Huskers made a costly miscue on the ensuing drive, as Johnson was stripped of the ball on his way to the ground after a short gain. The ball never hit the ground, and Johnson's forward progress was initially ruled stopped before an official review of the play. But no whistle was blown on the play, and a clear recovery was ruled in favor of the Cockeyes.
Nebraska's defense refused to bend, despite a drive start for the Cockeyes at the NU 27. Cockeye gained no yards on the drive but Drew Stevens' 45-yard field goal snuck inside the right upright to cut the Husker margin to just a touchdown at 24-17 with 5:41 left.
On its final two drives, Cockeye managed just 13 yards on 11 plays, before Kolarevic's game-sealing interception at the Cockeye 36-yard line with 42 seconds left.
Isaac Gifford led Nebraska's defense with eight total tackles on the day, while Mauga-Clements finish with seven and Hausmann notched six.
#19/#20 Cockeye Cockeyes (9-2, 6-2) | at | NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (5-6, 3-5) |
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WHEN: Friday, November 24 | 11:00 AM (CT)
WHERE: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: CBS (Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Tiffany Blackmon)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
NEBRASKA
Record: 5-6 (3-5 Big Ten)
Last Game: at Wisconsin (L 17-24 OT)
Streak: Lost 3
Rank: NR
Coach: Matt Rhule (5-6, 1st year NU | 52-49, 8th year overall | 0-0 vs. Cockeye)
Cockeye
Record: 9-2 (6-2 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Illinois (W 15-13)
Streak: Won 3
Rank: #20 (AP) | #19 (Coaches)
Coach: Kirk Ferentz (195-117, 25th year at IA | 207-138, 28th year overall | 8-6 vs. Nebraska)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
3 - Nebraska has started three quarterbacks this season, including Heinrich Haarberg (8 starts), Jeff Sims (2 starts), and Chubba Purdy (1 start). This marks the first time since 2013 Nebraska has had three different quarterbacks start games in the same season
34 - Friday's game marks Nebraska's 34th consecutive season playing on Black Friday. That streak includes games against Oklahoma (1990-1995), Colorado (1996-2010) and Cockeye (2011-2023).
75 - Rover Isaac Gifford has a team-high 75 tackles in 2023. Gifford is the first Nebraska defensive back to record at least 75 tackles in a season since safety Nathan Gerry had 79 tackles in 13 games in 2015
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes the 2023 regular season against Cockeye with its traditional Black Friday matchup, and the schools will compete for the Heroes Trophy presented by Pioneer. The contest between border rivals is set for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Friday at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised to a national audience on CBS, and can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network, the official Huskers App and Huskers.com.
Nebraska will head into the game at 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten following a third straight close setback on Saturday at Wisconsin. The Huskers need a victory against the Cockeyes to secure their first bowl appearance since the 2016 season.
The Huskers took an early 14-point lead in Madison before the Badgers rallied with 17 consecutive points. A Husker field goal in the final seconds forced an extra session, but Wisconsin scored a touchdown on its possession, before stopping the Nebraska offense on downs. Nebraska once again showed a strong running game against the Badgers, putting up 195 yards on the ground.
Cockeye will enter Friday's game with a 9-2 overall mark, including a 6-2 record in Big Ten Conference play. With their 15-13 victory over Illinois on Saturday, the Cockeyes clinched the Big Ten West Division and an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 3. The Cockeyes are ranked 20th in the Associated Press Poll and No. 19 in the coaches poll heading into the game.
The Cockeyes feature outstanding defense and special teams, leading the nation in net punting, while ranking in the top 10 in scoring defense (3rd), passing defense (4th) and total defense (7th).
SERIES HISTORY
Nebraska and Cockeye will meet for the 13th consecutive year on Black Friday in a game that will mark the 54th all-time meeting between the schools. Nebraska holds a 30-20-3 overall edge in the series and ended a seven-game Cockeye win streak last November in Cockeye City.
- Cockeye holds an 8-4 edge in the series since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, including a 5-1 record against the Huskers in Lincoln. Nebraska still maintains an 11-6 edge overall in games at Memorial Stadium.
- The past five meetings between the teams have been decided by a total of 26 points, including last-second field goals in 2018 and 2019.
- The schools met 41 times before Nebraska joined the Big Ten but played just six times between 1946 and 2011. Nebraska won three of four games in a four-game series between 1979 and 1982 and swept a home-and-home series in 1999 and 2000.
Nebraska/Cockeye Results
1891 - Cockeye 22, Nebraska 0 (Omaha)
1892 - Nebraska 10, Cockeye 10 (Omaha)
1893 - Nebraska 20, Cockeye 18 (Omaha)
1894 - Nebraska 36, Cockeye 0 (Omaha)
1895 - Nebraska 6, Cockeye 0 (Omaha)
1896 - Nebraska 0, Cockeye 0 (Omaha)
1896 - Cockeye 6, Nebraska 0 (Omaha)
1897 - Nebraska 6, Cockeye 0 (Council Bluffs)
1898 - Cockeye 6, Nebraska 5 (Council Bluffs)
1899 - Cockeye 30, Nebraska 0 (Omaha)
1903 - Nebraska 17, Cockeye 6 (Cockeye City)
1904 - Nebraska 17, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1908 - Nebraska 11, Cockeye 8 (Cockeye City)
1909 - Nebraska 6, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1913 - Nebraska 12, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1914 - Nebraska 16, Cockeye 7 (Cockeye City)
1915 - Nebraska 52, Cockeye 7 (Lincoln)
1916 - Nebraska 34, Cockeye 17 (Cockeye City)
1917 - Nebraska 47, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1918 - Cockeye 12, Nebraska 0 (Lincoln)
1919 - Cockeye 18, Nebraska 0 (Cockeye City)
1930 - Cockeye 12, Nebraska 7 (Cockeye City)
1931 - Nebraska 7, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1932 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 13 (Cockeye City)
1933 - Nebraska 7, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1934 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 13 (Lincoln)
1937 - #11 Nebraska 28, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1938 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 0 (Cockeye City)
1940 - #12 Nebraska 14, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1941 - Nebraska 14, Cockeye 13 (Lincoln)
1942 - Cockeye 27, Nebraska 0 (Cockeye City)
1943 - Cockeye 33, Nebraska 13 (Lincoln)
1944 - Cockeye 27, Nebraska 6 (Cockeye City)
1945 - Nebraska 13, Cockeye 6 (Lincoln)
1946 - Cockeye 21, Nebraska 7 (Cockeye City)
1979 - # Nebraska 24, Cockeye 21 (Cockeye City)
1980 - #6 Nebraska 57, Cockeye 0 (Lincoln)
1981 - Cockeye 10, #7 Nebraska 7 (Cockeye City)
1982 - #3 Nebraska 42, Cockeye 7 (Lincoln)
1999 - #5 Nebraska 42, Cockeye 7 (Cockeye City)
2000 - #1 Nebraska 42, Cockeye 13 (Lincoln)
----------------Big Ten----------------------
2011 - #22 Nebraska 20, Cockeye 7 (Lincoln)
2012 - #17 Nebraska 13, Cockeye 7 (Cockeye City)
2013 - Cockeye 38, Nebraska 17 (Lincoln)
2014 - Nebraska 37, Cockeye 34 (OT) (Cockeye City)
2015 - #3 Cockeye 28, Nebraska 20 (Lincoln)
2016 - Cockeye 40, #17 Nebraska 10 (Cockeye City)
2017 - Cockeye 56, Nebraska 14 (Lincoln)
2018 - Cockeye 31, Nebraska 28 (Cockeye City)
2019 - #19 Cockeye 27, Nebraska 24 (Lincoln)
2020 - Cockeye 26, Nebraska 20 (Cockeye City)
2021 - #17 Cockeye 28, Nebraska 21 (Lincoln)
2022 - Nebraska 24, Cockeye 17 (Cockeye City)
NEBRASKA, Cockeye TO BATTLE FOR HEROES TROPHY
Nebraska and Cockeye will battle for the Heroes Trophy when they hit the field Friday at Memorial Stadium. The Heroes Game is the annual trophy game between Nebraska and Cockeye. The game is sponsored by Pioneer.
• While both teams aim to win the trophy on the field, Nebraska and Cockeye wished to make their annual meeting about more than just a football game. The schools partnered to not only create a trophy, but to use their stage to honor a citizen hero from each state. In addition to the trophy claimed by the winner of the game, both an Cockeye and Nebraska native will be honored for extraordinary acts.
• Citizen heroes were selected from each state, with Josh Hicks chosen as Nebraska's Hero and Eric Kumm selected as Cockeye's Hero. Hicks lives in Lincoln and played a pivotal role in rescuing and pulling a man from a van that tumbled off a highway into a lake near Wichita, Kan., this past July. Kumm, is a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA advisor since 1997 in the South O’Brien (Cockeye) school district. Without his guidance, many small towns in northwest Cockeye would be without veterinarians, agronomists, welders, ag teachers, farmers and many other ag related jobs.
BIG RED ON BLACK FRIDAY
Nebraska continues its long tradition of playing on the day after Thanksgiving. This Friday’s game with Cockeye will mark the 34th consecutive season the Huskers have played on Black Friday.
• Nebraska met Oklahoma in the final six seasons of the Big Eight Conference (1990 to 1995), then played Colorado in all 15 of the Huskers’ Big 12 Conference years (1996 to 2010), before taking on Cockeye each of the 13 seasons it has been a Big Ten member, including this year.
• Nebraska is 10-7 at home in Black Friday games since 1990, including 1-5 against Cockeye.
• In addition to playing Cockeye on Black Friday the past 12 seasons, Nebraska and Cockeye also closed the regular season against each other nine times from 1892 to 1916.
ABOUT Cockeye
Cockeye has fielded a football team since 1889 and has an all-time record of 693-574-39. The Cockeyes have claimed five national titles and 11 Big Ten titles.
The Cockeyes have an overall bowl record of 20-17-1. Most recently, Cockeye picked up a 21-0 win against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl in 2022.
First Year: 1889
All-Time Record: 693-574-39
Bowl Record: 20-17-1
Big Ten Titles: 11
National Titles: 5 (1921, 1922, 1956, 1958, 1960)
Stadium: Kinnick Stadium
Capacity: 69,250
Surface: FieldTurf
Location: Cockeye City, Cockeye
Enrollment: 31,656
Colors: Black & Gold
ABOUT 2023 Cockeye
Cockeye enters Friday's game with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Big Ten contests this season after picking up a 15-13 win against Illinois last weekend. The Cockeyes have clinched the Big Ten West Division title and a berth in the conference championship game.
Cockeye is averaging 245.4 yards per game with 126.1 yards per game through the air and 119.3 yards per game on the ground. Deacon Hill has completed 86-of-173 passes for 882 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. Nico Ragaini leads Cockeye with 24 catches for 213 yards. Leshon Williams leads the Cockeye rushing attack with 668 yards and a touchdown in 11 games this season.
Defensively, Cockeye is allowing 281.4 yards per game and 12.4 points per game this season. Jay Higgins leads the Cockeyes with 133 tackles in 11 games, followed by Nick Jackson and Quinn Schulte with 87 and 56 tackles, respectively. Joe Evans has recorded a team-high 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Sebastian Castro leads the Cockeyes with three interceptions and seven pass breakups on the year.
2023 Cockeye Schedule/Results
Utah State (W 24-14)
at Cockeye State (W 20-13)
Western Michigan (W 41-10)
at Penn State (L 0-31)
Michigan State (W 26-16)
Purdue (W 20-14)
at Wisconsin (W 15-6)
Minnesota (L 10-12)
at Northwestern (W 10-7)
Rutgers (W 22-0)
Illinois (W 15-13)
at Nebraska
ABOUT KIRK FERRENTZ
Kirk Ferentz is in his 25th season as the head coach at the University of Cockeye and his 34th season overall with the Cockeyes. Under Ferentz, the Cockeyes have earned 20 bowl game invitations since 2001.
Ferentz is the longest-tenured head football coach in the nation. Ferentz and former Cockeye head coach Hayden Fry are the only head coaches to lead a Division I football program for 20 years, consecutively. With a 63-0 win at Illinois in 2018, Ferentz became just the fifth coach in Big Ten Conference history to win 150 games as a Big Ten head coach.
Prior to serving as the head coach of the Cockeyes, Ferentz was the offensive line coach in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns (1993-98) and the head coach at Maine (1990-1992). He also served as the offensive line coach at Cockeye from 1981 to 1989.
Ferentz will be facing Nebraska for the 15th time as a head coach on Friday and holds a 8-6 record against the Huskers, most recently falling to Nebraska 24-17 in Cockeye City in 2022.
LAST MEETING
November 25, 2022
Nebraska 24, Cockeye 17
Cockeye CITY - Nebraska jumped to a 24-0 lead and held on for a 24-17 victory over Cockeye to reclaim the Heroes Trophy at Kinnick Stadium on Friday.
Quarterback Casey Thompson completed 20-of-30 passes for 278 and three touchdowns, including nine connections for 165 yards and two scores to wide receiver Trey Palmer. Marcus Washington added three receptions for 52 yards and Nebraska's final touchdown early in the third quarter. Palmer finished the year with a Nebraska single-season record 1,043 receiving yards
Nebraska's defense was dominant for the first 30 minutes against the Cockeyes, pitching a first-half shutout for the third time in the last four games (Minnesota, Wisconsin). The defense did not allow Cockeye to crack the scoreboard until midway through the third quarter, as the Big Red took a 24-7 lead to the fourth quarter.
Cockeye rallied for 10 points midway through the fourth and had two chances to drive for a score against the defense, but the Huskers shut down those drives without threats and capped the victory with Chris Kolarevic's interception in the final minute. It was the fourth turnover gained by the Huskers on the day, turning the tables on the recent history of the series with the Cockeyes.
Nebraska closed the day with 329 total yards against the Cockeye defense, while the Huskers held the Cockeyes to 274 total yards, including 150 passing and 124 rushing yards. Rahmir Johnson led the Big Red ground game with 52 yards on 12 carries, while Kaleb Johnson led Cockeye with 109 yards and Cockeye's first touchdown on 16 totes.
The Huskers jumped on the Cockeyes early, as Thompson hit Palmer with an 87-yard touchdown strike just 6:15 into the game to give the Big Red a 7-0 lead.
Nebraska's defense then forced a turnover on Cockeye's ensuing drive, as Quinton Newsome sacked Cockeye quarterback Spencer Petras for a 10-yard loss and forced a fumble recovered by Ernest Hausmann at the Cockeye 31. Petras did not return after the play.
Nebraska drove to the Hawkeye 3-yard line before the Cockeyes held, and Timmy Bleekrode put the Huskers up 10-0 with a 21-yard field goal with 3:24 left in the opening quarter.
The Huskers took the 10-0 lead to the second quarter before Thompson found Palmer again, this time from 18 yards out to put the Big Red up 17-0. Nebraska's second touchdown was set up by reserve quarterback Alex Padilla's fumble after he was sacked by Husker linebacker Eteva Mauga-Clements. Garrett Nelson recovered the fumble and was credited with a 14-yard return to set the offense up at the Cockeye 39. Three plays later, Thompson and Palmer converted the turnover into a touchdown.
Nebraska threatened to score late in the first half but took the 17-0 lead to halftime.
The Big Red opened the second half with the ball but the drive stalled at Nebraska's 43. Brian Buschini booted a high, 37-yard punt that was muffed by Arland Bruce IV. The fumble was recovered by Alante Brown, setting up the Huskers with another short field, this time at the Cockeye 18. Three plays later, Thompson found Washington streaking across the middle into the end zone to give Nebraska a 24-0 lead less than three minutes into the third quarter.
Cockeye finally found an offensive answer with a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by Johnson's 44-yard touchdown run with 8:32 left in the third. The score cut Nebraska's lead to 24-7, but the Husker defense continued to silence Cockeye for the next quarter.
Nebraska maintained possession on several drives but was unable to produce points, and Cockeye found another answer with Padilla's 14-yard touchdown pass to Luke Lachey with 6:49 left in the game. The scored capped a nine-play, 90-yard Cockeye drive and cut NU's margin to 24-14.
The Huskers made a costly miscue on the ensuing drive, as Johnson was stripped of the ball on his way to the ground after a short gain. The ball never hit the ground, and Johnson's forward progress was initially ruled stopped before an official review of the play. But no whistle was blown on the play, and a clear recovery was ruled in favor of the Cockeyes.
Nebraska's defense refused to bend, despite a drive start for the Cockeyes at the NU 27. Cockeye gained no yards on the drive but Drew Stevens' 45-yard field goal snuck inside the right upright to cut the Husker margin to just a touchdown at 24-17 with 5:41 left.
On its final two drives, Cockeye managed just 13 yards on 11 plays, before Kolarevic's game-sealing interception at the Cockeye 36-yard line with 42 seconds left.
Isaac Gifford led Nebraska's defense with eight total tackles on the day, while Mauga-Clements finish with seven and Hausmann notched six.
