NEW YORK — Dylan Raiola threw for 228 yards and a touchdown as Nebraska built an 18-point lead through three quarters and held on to defeat Boston College 20-15 on Saturday, marking the Cornhuskers’ first bowl win since 2015.
Nebraska took a 13-2 lead in the first half with touchdown runs from Rahmir Johnson and Kwinten Ives. In the third quarter, Raiola connected with Emmett Johnson for a 13-yard touchdown pass on a crucial fourth down, giving the Cornhuskers a 20-2 lead with 3:02 left. Nebraska (7-6) maintained their advantage to secure the victory.
Raiola completed 23 of 31 passes in front of a large Nebraska crowd, celebrating the program’s first bowl win since their 2015 Foster Farms Bowl triumph over UCLA and their first winning season since 2016.
“The biggest thing is that finally they can walk off the field and say ‘Hey, we got it done,'” said Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule. “We’ll have a lot of momentum heading into the offseason.”
Raiola spread the ball to 10 different receivers, including Jahmal Banks, who had four catches for 79 yards.
“He’s gotten so much better as the year’s gone on in terms of the speed, movement, and those things,” Rhule remarked about Raiola.
Johnson and Ives each scored short touchdowns in the second quarter, and Nebraska’s defense set up the decisive score in the third. Emmett Johnson’s touchdown came on a fourth-and-3 play after John Bullock sacked Boston College quarterback Grayson James, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Elijah Jeudy at midfield.
James finished the game 25 of 40 for 296 yards, but Boston College (7-6) fell to 0-3 in Pinstripe Bowl appearances.
The Eagles reached midfield on five of their first seven possessions but committed two turnovers and failed to convert four fourth downs, including two inside the 10-yard line. Boston College finally scored with 6:11 left in the fourth quarter when Turbo Richard rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, but their two-point conversion attempt failed. BC made it a one-score game with Jordan McDonald’s 2-yard touchdown run, following a blocked punt recovery.
“I thought we were productive, but we couldn’t score,” said Boston College Coach Bill O’Brien. “That’s a problem because you have to score to win.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Rahmir Johnson opened the second period with a 4-yard touchdown run. Following two unsuccessful fourth-down attempts by BC in Nebraska territory, the Cornhuskers extended their lead to 13-0 on Ives’ 2-yard run, set up by a 22-yard run from Rahmir Johnson. Boston College’s only points of the first half came when Ashton McShane blocked John Hohl’s extra point attempt and returned it for two points.
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