NCAA Game Summary - Nebraska at Minnesota
(Saturday, October 22nd)
Final Score: (13) Nebraska 41, Minnesota 14
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Nebraska and Minnesota may have met for the
first time in 21 years on Saturday, but the result remained the same.
Taylor Martinez passed for a touchdown and Rex Burkhead ran for another, as
the 13th-ranked Cornhuskers beat the Golden Gophers, 41-14, at TCF Bank
Stadium.
Martinez completed 13-of-22 throws for 162 yards and added 52 yards on the
ground, while Burkhead gained 117 yards on 23 carries.
"I thought we played a good football game," said Nebraska head coach Bo
Pelini. "I thought we came out fast. I thought we did a lot of good things
both sides of the football, special teams. There are still a lot of things we
can do better."
Nebraska (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) has won 15 straight over Minnesota (1-6, 0-3),
outscoring the Gophers 594-114 since losing in Lincoln on September 24, 1960.
MarQueis Gray ran for the first of Minnesota's two second-half touchdowns, but
finished with just 122 yards on 9-of-18 passing while committing a turnover
that led to a Nebraska score.
"We didn't play consistent football today, and we kicked ourselves in the tail
end," said Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill. "We didn't get beat physically,
but it was the mental game that got us, which is part our fault (the coaching
staff) for not having the team ready to play."
Coming off their bye week, the Cornhuskers opened the scoring when Brett Maher
connected on a 22-yard field goal. Nebraska's second possession ended with
Martinez and Tyler Legate hooking up for a 10-yard touchdown.
Minnesota punted to begin the second quarter, and it didn't take Nebraska long
to extend its lead. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Kenny Bell took
the ball on a reverse and sprinted 82 yards for the touchdown.
After Maher kicked a 25-yard field goal, Nebraska's Austin Cassidy picked up a
Gray fumble and returned the ball 11 yards to the end zone.
The visitors then upped their advantage to 34-0 with 33 seconds left in the
first half when Burkhead rushed in from four-yards away to cap a 14-play, 73-
yard drive.
After Gray put Minnesota on the board in the third quarter, Nebraska made it
41-7 by going 91-yards in 17 plays. Aaron Green finished the drive with a
four-yard dash to the end zone.
Minnesota's Duane Bennett ran for six-yard touchdown late in regulation to
account for the final score.
Game Notes
Before moving to the Big Ten, Nebraska had played more games against Minnesota
than any other non-conference opponent (51)...The Cornhuskers posted 515
yards, including 346 rushing...Nebraska has now topped 200 yards on the ground
in six of its seven games this season...Gray led Minnesota's ground attack
with 67 yards...The Gophers generated 254 total yards.
10/22 20:16:01 ET

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