Weird things happen under full moon, man.
On a night when the only thing missing was the partridge in a pear tree, Nebraska's special teams giveth, and Nebraska's special teams taketh away.Â
In one of the more bizarre first halves of football in recent memory in Memorial Stadium — which is really saying something after the way the past few years have gone — the Huskers and Northern Illinois combined to block five kicks.
And that was just the start.
NIU quarterback Ross Bowers hit two pooch punts, including a beauty that pinned Nebraska inside its own 5-yard line and led to a safety. The Huskies tried an onside kick that went out of bounds. They tried a fake punt in their own territory that came up short when Austin Allen tackled Matt Ference.
Meanwhile, Nebraska had two field goals and an extra point blocked. Lane McCallum, who was a kicker at Air Force and then transferred to Nebraska to play safety, kicked NU's final extra point of the first half and handled Nebraska's place-kicking duties for the remainder of the evening.
"It was so quick and I didn't even know what was going on," McCallum said of his first extra point with 5 seconds left in the first half. "No time to get nervous, no time to think, just kicked it."
Nebraska walk-on defensive back Isaiah Stalbird blocked one, er, two, punts. On the first, Ference appeared to drop the ball rather than try to kick it as Stalbird swarmed in.
"It puts the offense in a great position to score and just keep piling points on points on points," defensive back Eric Lee said of the blocks. "So getting production from our special teams like that, it helps tremendously."
On the second block, Allen said, he was thinking scoop and score as he closed in on the ball deep in NIU territory.
But a few bobbles later, the ball was out of bounds and Allen was getting grief on the sideline.
"I think my eyes got big as golf balls," Allen said. "I need to make that play."
Allen said the Huskers saw something on film during the week as they repped specials teams that gave them reason to think they could affect NIU's punting game.
There were gaps that were going to be uncovered, Allen said, and the Huskers were able to take advantage.Â
"We repped it a couple times during the week. It looked great. We knew we were going to run it," Allen said. "We ran it once (in the game) and it looked great, obviously, so we did, and we executed."
It seemed the only normal special teams play of the first half was Armstrong drilling a 36-yard field goal on Nebraska's opening drive.
"Not sure if there’s a consistent theme to the blocks (of Nebraska's kicks)," Nebraska head coach Scott Frost said. “That’s never a problem until it’s a problem. You don’t know there’s a hole in your boat until you put it in the water."
The only squirrelly special teams moment in the second half came when Northern Illinois knocked a kickoff out of bounds after booting a field goal on its opening drive of the third quarter.
Maybe the success got to the Huskies' heads.
"Coach gives us three keys to winning the game, and special teams is one of them," Allen said. "Special teams win and lose you games, and a lot of plays today, in close games, would have been big, deciding factors."
Photos: It's a victory under the lights for the Huskers
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Maurice Washington (28) rushes for a second-quarter touchdown against Northern Illinois on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Northern Illinois punter Matt Ference (36) gets his punt blocked in the first quarter by Nebraska's Isaiah Stalbird (right) on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Noah Vedral (16) dives into the end zone for a fourth-quarter touchdown run against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Lane McCallum (48) kicks an extra point as Isaac Armstrong holds in the second quarter against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Wyatt Mazour (37) and Eli Sullivan (30) celebrate after the Huskers' blocked a punt in the first quarter against Northern Illinois on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Northern Illinois' running back Tre Harbison (22) is brought down by Nebraska's Khalil Davis and Mo Barry (7) last month at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Maurice Washington (28) gets tackled by Northern Illinois Jalen McKie-Bey (23) in the first quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Austin Allen (11) recovers a Northern Illinois punt blocked by Isaiah Stalbird in the first quarter last Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Maurice Washington (28) rushes for a first-quarter touchdown against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Rahmir Johnson gets tackled by Northern Illinois' Vinny Labus last season at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska cornerback Braxton Clark (17) intercepts a ball in front of teammate Ben Stille in the fourth quarter on Sept. 14, 2019, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Jeremiah Stovall (24) pursues Northern Illinois' Cole Tucker in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
LINCOLN, NEB. - 09/14/2019 - Nebraska head coach Scott Frost looks over injured Huskers cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt as the training staff tends to him on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Nebraska's Lane McCallum kicks an extra point with Isaac Armstrong holding against Northern Illinois on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers are searching for more consistency on special teams.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
LINCOLN, NEB. - 09/14/2019 - Nebraska's Will Honas (3) pursues Northern Illinois' Jordan Nettles (28) on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
FRANCIS GARDLER JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska defensive coordinator Erik Chinander (right) and head coach Scott Frost check on the condition of Can Taylor-Britt, who was injured in the game against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska defenders Collin Miller (left), Will Honas (top) and Eli Sullivan tackle Northern Illinois' Tre Harbison on Sept. 14 in Lincoln.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Lamar Jackson (21) defends against Northern Illinois' Tyrice Richie last September at Memorial Stadium.Â
JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills looks for yards on a fourth-quarter run as Northern Illinois' Matt Lorbeck grabs him Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska offensive lineman Brendan Jaimes (76) is helped off the field by the training staff after a fourth-quarter injury on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska training staff tend to offensive lineman Brendan Jaimes as he lies on the ground after a fourth-quarter injury on at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez looks to pass in the fourth quarter against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (26) rushes against Northern Illinois in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
The Husker Scarlet Dance Team performs during the game between Nebraska and Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) tries to avoid a tackle from Northern Illinois' Vinny Labus (50) last Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska outside linebacker Jojo Domann (13) (right) tackles Northern Illinois' Jordan Nettles (28) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost high-fives fans before Saturday's game against Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost on the field before Saturday's game against Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez awaits the snap in the fourth quarter against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's defensive lineman Carlos Davis (96) sacks Northern Illinois quarterback Ross Bowers (12) in September at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez celebrates scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska fans in the student section do the wave in the fourth quarter Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska staff members attend to Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (5) after he was injured on a play during against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Darrion Daniels (79) and Will Honas (3) tackle Northern Illinois' Marcus Jones (21) in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Caleb Tannor (top) and Austin Allen (11) tackle Northern Illinois punter Matt Ference on a first-quarter fake punt at Memorial Stadium in 2019.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska receiver JD Spielman (10) breaks away for a first down against Northern Illinois in the first quarter in September at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska coach Scott Frost and the Husker sideline watch the action against Northern Illinois in the first quarter on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Northern Illinois' Trayshon Foster reaches out for a ball fumbled by the Huskers in the first quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost (right) watches as Huskers' cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (5) gets worked on by the training staff in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska wide receiver Mike Williams (19) catches a pass as he's defended by Northern Illinois' Marcus Childers (15) in the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (26) scores on a second-quarter run against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska coach Scott Frost watches a playback on the video board during the game against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska's Isaac Armstrong (98) kicks an extra point against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (left) fumbles the ball to Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (right) moves the ball down the field on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska receiver JD Spielman (10) can't come up with a pass as Northern Illinois' Jalen McKie (23) defends him Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Maurice Washington runs for a touchdown against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska receiver Kanawai Noa (bottom) holds the ball aloft after scoring a touchdown on a pass from Adrian Martinez as he was defended by Northern Illinois' Jalen McKie-Bey (23) in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (26) scores a touchdown as Northern Illinois' Jalen McKie (23) tackles him in the end zone during the second quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) celebrates with running back Maurice Washington after Washington scored a touchdown in the second quarter against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska running back Maurice Washington scores a touchdown as Northern Illinois' Jalen McKie trails him on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez passes while under pressure during Saturday's game against Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
New Nebraska verbal pledge Henry Gray, far left, on the field with other recruits before a football game between Nebraska and Northern Illinois on Sept. 14 at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Quarterback recruit Pete Costelli stands on the sideline before Saturday's football game between Nebraska and Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Jay Foreman, one of the members of the 2019 class of the Nebraska Hall of Fame, gets a hug from Huskers head coach Scott Frost during a pregame ceremony on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Jay Foreman, one of the members of the 2019 class of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, gets a hug from Huskers head coach Scott Frost during a pregame ceremony on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost (right) talks with his brother Steve before the Northern Illinois game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
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Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Jay Foreman, one of the members of the 2019 class of the Nebraska Hall of Fame, throws the bones during a pregame ceremony in September of 2019 at Memorial Stadium.Â
JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Alex Henery (left) and Jay Foreman, members of the 2019 class of the Nebraska Hall of Fame were recognized during a pre-game ceremony on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost (right) hugs his brother Steve before the Northern Illinois game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, JOURNAL STAR
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Hager Kermmoade of Oxford poses for a portrait decked out in Husker gear before Saturday's football game against Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Fans wait for Husker football players to arrive before a football game against Northern Illinois in September 2019 at Memorial Stadium.
JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) participates in the Unity Walk before Saturday's football game against Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Nebraska coach Scott Frost (center) during the Unity Walk before the game against Northern Illinois last Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
Lori Anderson of Seward (right) records the Unity Walk before the football game against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska, 9.14
A member of Nebraska's marching band sits on another member's shoulders while the band plays before the football game against Northern Illinois on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.Â
EMILY HANEY, Journal Star
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