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Nebraska takes care of Kansas

Nov 14, 2010 - 5:08 AM Lincoln, NE (Sports Network) - Taylor Martinez threw for 167 yards on 14-of-26 passing and Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 85 yards and a score on 18 carries, as the ninth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers topped the Kansas Jayhawks, 20-3, at Memorial Stadium.

Rex Burkhead rushed for 77 yards and a score on 19 carries and Alex Henery connected on two field goals to lead Nebraska (9-1, 5-1 Big 12), which has won four straight since falling to Texas on October 16.

"We didn't execute very well, we were sloppy," said Nebraska head coach Bo Pelili. "We didn't play our best, but we won 20-3, and it's time to move on to the next one."

Quinn Mecham only completed 3-of-13 passes for 15 yards and an interception for Kansas (3-7, 1-5), which could manage only a Jacob Branstetter field goal in the game.

Burkhead capped a nine-play, 54-yard drive with a four-yard rush up the middle in the final seconds of the first quarter to give the Huskers the 7-0 advantage.

Nebraska got the ball back after a Kansas punt with 8:17 left in the second and used a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a Helu Jr. 20-yard run to double their lead. Martinez threw a 13-yard pass to Niles Paul on 3rd-and-4 from the KU 44, and Rex Burkhead's ensuing 11-yard run set up the score.

The 14-0 margin stood at halftime, and with 6:46 left in the third quarter Henery connected on a 42-yard field goal to put the Huskers up by 17.

Kansas' only scoring drive came when Branstetter hit a 42-yard field goal with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third to cut the Jayhawks' deficit to 14.

Henery added a 24-yard chip shot with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in the fourth to account for the final margin.

"I just first want to say that I am proud of our football team," said Kansas head coach Turner Gill. "They played a very good football opponent. Our guys played well, played tough, and played hard throughout the football game. I also give credit to Nebraska, they're a good football team, and they played well also."

Game Notes

Saturday's game ends the nation's longest continuous series, as Nebraska will leave the Big 12 for the Big 10 in 2011. Nebraska leads the series 91-23-3 and has won the last 20 meetings at Memorial Stadium dating back to 1968...Nebraska held the first down margin by a tally of 20-5.