No. 9 Nebraska records easy victory over Wyoming
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rex Burkhead rushed for a career-high 170 14.
The previous five meetings between the schools were all played in Lincoln, Nebraska, with the Cornhuskers winning each game.
Taylor Martinez completed 12-of-21 passes for 157 yards and a score. He also carried the ball 12 times for 37 yards with a touchdown for Nebraska (4-0).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brett Smith went 17-for-33 for 166 yards, two touchdowns and a pick for Wyoming (3-1).
Mazi Ogbonna and Robert Herron each caught touchdown passes for the Cowboys.
"There are a number of things that we can correct and we will become a better team because of this game," Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After trading punts on the first three possessions, Nebraska broke the scoreless tie. Wyoming was forced to punt from its own end zone and Austin McCoy managed just a 39-yard kick, placing the ball on the Wyoming 45-yard line. Burkhead took the handoff on first down and rushed towards the left side. He received a couple key blocks and broke down the field for a 45-yard score.
Each team's defense held until the Cornhuskers took over at their own 20-yard line with 9:18 remaining in the first half. On 3rd-and-6, Martinez hit Quincy Enunwa for a 30-yard gain and Burkhead rumbled for 22-yard gain on the next play. Four plays later, Martinez ran it in from the eight-yard line to put Nebraska up 14-0.
But Wyoming recorded its own 80-yard drive on its next possession to make it a seven-point game again. The eight-play drive was capped with a 48-yard catch- and-run by Ogbonna in which he caught the ball over the middle and broke two tackles on his way in for the score.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nebraska then drove down the field, but Brett Maher just missed a 50-yard field goal to the right as time expired in the half to keep it a 14-7 game.
Tim Marlowe returned the opening kickoff of the second half to his own 44-yard line, and two personal foul penalties on the Wyoming defense helped the Cornhuskers drive down the field, resulting in a Burkhead TD run from 16 yards out.
"Rex has been playing like that all year, and it doesn't surprise me. I think Rex is a heck of a player," Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After the Cowboys failed to convert a fourth down on a fake field goal, the Cornhuskers took over at midfield. A 44-yard catch by Kyler Reed set up a 20- yard field goal by Maher, putting Nebraska ahead 24-7.
A fumble recovery gave Wyoming the ball at its own 47. Herron's 21-yard run and a defensive pass interference penalty moved the ball to the Nebraska 15- yard line, but the drive stalled there and Daniel Sullivan's 32-yard field goal missed wide right.
On the ensuing possession, Nebraska ran on 7-of-9 plays before Martinez found Kenny Bell in the end zone for an eight-yard score.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wyoming answered with a 14-play drive, resulting in a 10-yard TD pass from Smith to Herron. Smith completed 7-of-11 passes for 67 yards on the drive.
But Nebraska's offense was able to run out the majority of the clock with an 11-play drive capped by a one-yard score by Braylon Heard. P.J. Smith's interception allowed the Cornhuskers to run out the remainder of the game.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This was Burkhead's second straight 100-yard performance...Nebraska out gained Wyoming on the ground 333-137...Wyoming took the edge in the air 168-157...The Cornhuskers converted 7-of-13 third downs, while the Cowboys converted on 7- of-17 tries...Wyoming went 1-for-2 on fourth downs.