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Huskies shut down 'Huskers in Holiday Bowl

Dec 31, 2010 - 7:54 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Polk ran for 177 yards and a touchdown, and Washington's ferocious defense helped the Huskies record a 19-7 victory over 17th-ranked Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.

Jake Locker ran for 83 yards and a score while throwing for 56 yards for the Huskies (7-6), who avenged a 56-21 home loss to Nebraska earlier this season.

Washington, though, allowed the Cornhuskers only 189 yards of offense to record its first bowl win since the 2001 Rose Bowl against Purdue. This was the school's first bowl appearance since the 2002 Sun Bowl.

Taylor Martinez threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kyler Reed for Nebraska (10-4), which finished its Big 12 tenure with losses in three of its last four games. The Cornhuskers will join the Big Ten next year as one of many schools to switch conferences.

The Huskies scored enough points in the first quarter to win the game.

After recovering a fumble on Nebraska's first drive, Washington needed to go only 21 yards for its first touchdown. Locker caught a 17-yard pass from Jesse Callier on the first offensive play for the Huskies, and Polk ran it into the end zone from three yards away.

Nebraska went three-and-out on its next two series, and Erik Folk kicked a 39- yard field goal with 1 1/2 minutes left for a 10-0 Washington lead.

The Cornhuskers finally got on the board with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended on Reed's touchdown early in the second, but they never scored again.

Martinez threw an interception on the next drive, and Nebraska's last drive of the half ended in a punt.

Washington began the second half near midfield, and Locker's 26-yard pass to D'Andre Goodwin was followed by his 25-yard touchdown run for a 17-7 lead.

Nebraska, meanwhile, punted on its two possessions of the third quarter, and its first touch of the fourth ended in a safety after a holding penalty was called in the end zone.

While the score was only 19-7 with 13 1/2 minutes left in the fourth, the size of the deficit almost didn't matter for Nebraska, which continued to look miserable on offense.

The Cornhuskers went three-and-out after Folk missed a 47-yard field goal, and their last drive ended on a fourth-down incompletion by Cody Green from the Washington 44.

Game Notes

Washington had been 0-3 in the Holiday Bowl prior to Thursday...These two teams play each other again in Lincoln next season...Nebraska fell to 24-23 in bowl games...Washington recorded 340 yards of offense...Nebraska was called for 12 penalties, totaling 102 yards, while the Huskies committed three for 30.