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Lucky leads Nebraska to romp over Nevada

Sep 2, 2007 - 1:24 AM LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Nebraska used a little Luck on Saturday.

Marlon Lucky rushed for 233 yards and scored four touchdowns - both career highs - on Saturday as No. 20 Nebraska ran away from Nevada, 52-10, in the season opener for both schools.

Sam Keller completed 14-of-25 attempts for 193 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Nebraska (1-0), which has been victorious in its last 22 season openers - the longest such streak in the nation.

"Overall, it was a good win for our team today," Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. "I'm awfully proud of our coaches and players. The preparation that we put into this was extensive, and it certainly paid off today. I'm just proud of the way the guys played, competed and put forth a good effort against a good football team."

Lucky had 30 carries and caught three passes for 33 yards, including a 16-yard TD catch with 4:16 left in the first quarter to give the Cornhuskers a 7-0 lead.

"I'm happy for Marlon," Callahan said. "He had a complete game and did a fine job as a receiver."

The junior led a running attack that gained 413 yards and helped the defending Big 12 Conference North champions control the ball for 40:38.

"The offensive line did a great job today, as well as the tight ends and quarterbacks," Lucky said. "The line was pushing their defensive front off the ball and Coach (Callahan) wanted to pound it."

"Our offense held our defense out to hang in that first half, by not getting first downs and not converting some opportunities we had," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "The defense was just on the field too much."

Nebraska, which gained a total of 625 yards, took control of the game after a terrible miscue by Keller.

After the Wolf Pack cut its deficit to 7-3 on a 36-yard field goal by Brett Jaekle 62 seconds into the second period, Keller had the Cornhuskers offense deep in Nevada territory before being intercepted by cornerback Jonathan Amaya, who returned the pick 80 yards to give the Wolf Pack a 10-7 advantage at the 10:55 mark.

"It was an unfortunate turnover and those happen, learn from it and move on," Keller said.

However, Lucky took over from there.

After Will Henry returned the ensuing kickoff to the Nevada 40, Lucky carried the ball six times for 33 yards, including a one-yard score with 6:40 left in the half to help Nebraska regain a 14-10 lead.

"Coach Callahan likes to play the first quarter out and see what the defense has and we just go out and play after that," Lucky added.

On the Cornhuskers' next possession, the 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky, who rushed for 102 yards by halftime, ripped off a 22-yard gain followed by a six-yard run before being replaced by freshman Quentin Castille, who finished off the nine-play, 54-yard drive by plunging in from one-yard out to make the score 21-10 at the half.

"The first time I scored, I was like 'Man, I never thought this day would come,' but it did," Castille said. "I felt good about myself."

Lucky scored on touchdown runs of 17 and three yards in the third quarter to give Nebraska a 35-10 lead midway through the period.

"We just kept running on them," Callahan said. "It's all we wanted to do - to establish our running game. I think that speaks to our conditioning level. I thought that was a factor in the game."

A field goal and a two-yard run by Castille pushed the Cornhusker lead to 45-10 to start the final quarter. Castille finished with 71 yards on 18 carries.

"Quentin had a good game today for his first game as a freshman," Lucky said. "He played his butt off, as well as our other backs."

Nick Graziano went 8-of-24 for 109 yards and an interception for the Wolf Pack (0-1), who have dropped four straight season openers and are 0-2 all-time vs. teams from the Big 12. Nevada lost at Texas A&M, 48-18, in 1950.

"They kept consistent pressure most of the game, but I had my reads and I should have gotten rid of the ball a little quicker," Graziano said. "Those are things we have to change before next week's game against Northwestern."

The Wolf Pack offense gained a total of 185 yards.