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No. 10 Nebraska breezes by Chattanooga

Sep 4, 2011 - 1:18 AM Lincoln, NE (Sports Network) - Taylor Martinez threw for 116 yards, but it was his 135 yards and three touchdowns on the ground that led No. 10 Nebraska to a 40-7 victory over Chattanooga in its first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

Martinez connected on 11-of-22 pass attempts and was removed from the game in the middle of the fourth quarter when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Rex Burkhead carried the ball 11 times for 75 yards and a score, and Brett Maher connected on all four of his field goal attempts for the Cornhuskers (1-0), who extended the nation's longest season-opening win streak to 26 games.

Still, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini believed there were many things his team could improve on.

"I thought the operation of the offense was fine as far as getting up on the ball," he said. "I thought we got the ball snapped quick. Those things, the logistics of it, were fine. The execution of it wasn't very good. Too many busts, a couple communication errors out there on the field--just a lot of things we need to get better at."

B.J. Coleman went 19-of-33 through the air for the Mocs (0-1), compiling 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Marlon Anthony's 13-yard TD reception accounted for Chattanooga's lone score. The Mocs are coming off consecutive 6-5 seasons.

"We hurt ourselves. We jumped offsides and didn't snap the ball a couple of times," UTC coach Russ Huesman said. "For the most part, we protected pretty well. We have a young offensive line and they picked up pressure a lot. I thought they battled. We didn't look awful."

Martinez's seven-yard TD run early in the first quarter gave the Cornhuskers the lead. The four-play drive was highlighted by a 53-yard rush by Burkhead.

Maher nailed a 50-yard field goal late in the first and made a 48-yarder almost five minutes into the second to extend Nebraska's lead.

On a 4th-and-2 play later in the second, Martinez took the snap and bolted down the left side of the field for a 43-yard score.

Nebraska's defense then forced a three-and-out by the Mocs, and Maher's 34- yard kick in the closing seconds of the half made it a 23-0 game.

Chattanooga got on the board on third, using an eight-play opening drive that resulted in Anthony's TD reception.

But the Cornhuskers dominated the second half and put the game away with a 17- point third quarter, including a 21-yard Maher field goal, a three-yard rushing score by Burkhead after a Cameron Meredith interception at the five and a 47-yard TD run by Martinez.

Game Notes

It was the first ever meeting between the two schools...Nebraska is coming off consecutive 10-win seasons...Nebraska outgained Chattanooga on the ground 229 to 60 but the Mocs outgained the Cornhuskers through the air 170 to 135.