Huskers Run Past Iowa State

The Nebraska Cornhuskers put in a workman-like performance against Iowa State Saturday night in Ames, Iowa, rushing for more than 250 yards and holding Iowa State to seven points for much of the game. The resulting 28-14 Husker win moves NU to 5-1 on the season (2-0 in the Big 12) and dumps the Cyclones to 3-3 and 0-2 in the conference.

Nebraska set a physical tone early in the ball game, taking the opening drive 80 yards on 10 plays - 7 runs and 3 completed short pass attempts by Zach Taylor. And, Cody Glenn punctuated it with a 3-yard touchdown run. The offensive theme - running and short passing - would persist throughout the game. Nebraska had two backs - Glenn, and Brandon Jackson - go over the 100-yard mark for the season. And, Taylor was efficient on short passes on a windy night, completing 81% of his throws.

Iowa State answered NU's seven points early in the second quarter, when Bret Meyer plunged over the goal line on a 4th-down quarterback sneak. The score capped a 43-yard drive by Iowa State. Running back Steve Hicks might be credited with an assist on the touchdown, as he shoved Meyer from behind. It might have been Hicks' most meaningful contribution to an ISU offense that rushed for just 53 yards against the Blackshirt defense. Hicks got just 21 of those on six carries.

Nebraska answered with a touchdown of their own midway through the second quarter. Again, much of the damage came on the ground. Forty five of the 68 yards were covered by run plays, including a 21-yard scamper by Brandon Jackson. Taylor went 2-for-3 throwing, and Jackson scored the 1-yard touchdown on a run over the left side.

The game turned on a crucial sequence to end the first half. Nebraska's defense forced an ISU punt to get the ball back with just over one minute to play. Faced with no time outs, Taylor engineered a 60-yard touchdown drive over seven plays. He delivered a dagger shot to ISU's chances when he completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Purfify with just three seconds left to play in the half. NU took momentum and a 21-7 lead in to the locker room.

The third quarter of the game lacked scoring but not excitement. Iowa State had a touchdown negated by penalty and failed to convert on a fake field goal. Nebraska turned the ball over when Taylor fumbled on a scramble. Both defenses played gutsy football, as ISU slowed NU's rushing attack some and NU began to find more ways to pressure ISU quarterback Bret Meyer. In the face of that pressure, Meyer would complete just 46% of his passes (18-for-39), for 261 yards. He also threw an interception.

Nebraska salted the game away in the 4th quarter with another long touchdown drive, again mostly via the run. Cody Glenn rushed for 75 of the yards on the drive, and finished it off with his second touchdown of the night. The drive consumed more that five minutes of clock time, and the Huskers even overcame a penalty for holding.

ISU would tack on a meaningless touchdown with six seconds to play as Meyer found Blythe for his first touchdown of the night. Blythe would finish with 6 catches for 96 yards, all coming in the second half.

Cody Glenn led all rushers with 148 yards on 19 carries. Brandon Jackson added 116 on 22 carries. Zach Taylor went 17-of-21 for 131 yards and a touchdown. Marlon Lucky led NU in receptions with three. The effort resulted in 382 total yards for NU.

The Huskers next travel to Manhattan Kansas to play Kansas State. The Wildcats won against Oklahoma State on Saturday, 31-27. The sledding doesn't get easier for ISU, as they must travel to Norman Oklahoma to face the Sooners.