Top Performances Countdown: Johnson Leads Comeback vs. Nebraska
April 18, 2020 | Football
Offensive plays always stand out in big wins. People will always remember K.D. Nixon's 96-yard touchdown catch on a flea-flicker from Steven Montez and Tony Brown's game-tying touchdown catch in the closing minute of the fourth quarter in the stunning overtime win against archrival Nebraska on Sept. 7. But it was the defense that really won the game, led by defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson.
Johnson finished the game with four tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. He led the way for the defense to bring the Buffs back from a 17-0 halftime deficit as the group allowed just 203 yards after halftime, and had seven tackles for loss, six sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception in the game.
Johnson's efforts are No. 10 on our countdown of top performances of 2019-20.
With CU trailing 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, Johnson hurried Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez late in a stalled drive, helping force a punt that set up the 96-yard touchdown by Nixon.
With the Huskers clinging to a 24-21 lead, Johnson came up with another huge play, stripping Martinez on a sack as Nu'umotu Falo recovered for the Buffs to set up a game-tying field goal on the next CU drive.
After Nebraska scored one last time to go up 31-24 and the Buffs fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Johnson almost single-handedly stopped the Huskers. He sacked Martinez on the first play of the drive, then combined with Nate Landman on a second-down stop, forcing third-and-long, which quickly became fourth-and-long and a punt back to the Buffs. That defensive stop set up Brown's game-tying touchdown catch from Montez with just 46 seconds left in the fourth.
In overtime, after James Stefanou drilled a 34-yard field goal put CU in front 34-31, it was Nebraska's chance to tie or win the game. The Huskers gained one yard on the first two plays of their drive, remaining in field goal range, but setting up third-and-9 at the 24-yard line. Johnson again came up with what was now the biggest play of the game, sacking Martinez for a loss of seven yards and setting up a desperation field goal that badly missed wide and short, giving the Buffs the stunning victory.
Johnson went on to another strong season, finishing the year with 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks, despite missing three games to injury. He's back for his senior year in 2020.
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Johnson finished the game with four tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. He led the way for the defense to bring the Buffs back from a 17-0 halftime deficit as the group allowed just 203 yards after halftime, and had seven tackles for loss, six sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception in the game.
Johnson's efforts are No. 10 on our countdown of top performances of 2019-20.
With CU trailing 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, Johnson hurried Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez late in a stalled drive, helping force a punt that set up the 96-yard touchdown by Nixon.
With the Huskers clinging to a 24-21 lead, Johnson came up with another huge play, stripping Martinez on a sack as Nu'umotu Falo recovered for the Buffs to set up a game-tying field goal on the next CU drive.
After Nebraska scored one last time to go up 31-24 and the Buffs fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Johnson almost single-handedly stopped the Huskers. He sacked Martinez on the first play of the drive, then combined with Nate Landman on a second-down stop, forcing third-and-long, which quickly became fourth-and-long and a punt back to the Buffs. That defensive stop set up Brown's game-tying touchdown catch from Montez with just 46 seconds left in the fourth.
In overtime, after James Stefanou drilled a 34-yard field goal put CU in front 34-31, it was Nebraska's chance to tie or win the game. The Huskers gained one yard on the first two plays of their drive, remaining in field goal range, but setting up third-and-9 at the 24-yard line. Johnson again came up with what was now the biggest play of the game, sacking Martinez for a loss of seven yards and setting up a desperation field goal that badly missed wide and short, giving the Buffs the stunning victory.
Johnson went on to another strong season, finishing the year with 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks, despite missing three games to injury. He's back for his senior year in 2020.
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Players Mentioned
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