Huskers, Huskies both give fans reason to smile

Finally, the script had a happy Husker ending, ironically not far from Hollywood.
Faithful Nebraska fans stayed up Saturday night to catch the late show from UCLA, where our beloved Big Red was trying to win one on the road in a season suddenly filled with a giant question mark. With QB1 Dylan Raiola out for the season, could his talented but unproven true freshman understudy rise to the occasion, handle the moment and sustain the hopes of a hungry team and fan base -- in his old hometown no less.
The answer was an unequivocal yes!
TJ Lateef showed maturity well beyond his years, leading his team, our team, on four consecutive scoring drives to stir a what-if confidence that by the end of the night had Husker Nation thinking of an epic three-game run that could open the door to a New Year’s bowling date in Florida.
That would indeed be a Hollywood script we’ve been waiting for, but let’s not get ahead of the game. There is a lot of football left to be played in Happy Valley, where fate has not treated the Huskers well, and at home against those pesky Hawkeyes.
What struck me in Lateef’s postgame interview, in addition to his calm sideline demeanor during the game, was his humble, faith-driven approach to football and life. He is a pretty chill young man for a true freshman who just stepped under the spotlight and delivered on the biggest stage of his life. That poise under pressure as a run/pass threat reflects the kind of guy a team and coaching staff can trust with the ball, and game, in his hands.
With every reason to pound his chest and soak in the glory, Lateef spoke with humble confidence, deflecting the credit to his faith and teammates. In today’s NIL world of what have you done for me lately, that attitude is so refreshing. It was just one game, against a 3-6 Bruins team, but there’s a lot to like about No. 14.
As for Raiola’s future, save the conversation about a possible QB controversy for another day. Lateef is Nebraska’s QB1 for now, and we’re lucky to have him in Lincoln.
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Our own Big Red has reason to celebrate as well, though Friday’s quarter-final loss to Columbus Lakeview did not go as expected. Congrats to Coach Kyle Peterson and staff for finding a way to help this team rebound from an 0-3 start and finish with a season all can be proud of.
A lot of that credit belongs to a group of seniors who showed what leadership looks like, on and off the field. These young men completely bought into the one game at a time mentality, getting better each week and focusing on what they could control. There are a lot of life lessons this team can take from the season that will last far longer than the memory of a 7-4 record.
Well done, Huskies. You made Aurora proud.
KURT JOHNSON can be reached at kjohnson@ hamilton.net