Filed by Mitch Sherman at 11:15 p.m.
Nebraska is moving forward after a 49-3 season-opening victory over Florida Atlantic. Another Sun Belt foe, Arkansas State, is on tap for next week.
Arkansas State, by the way, allowed 69 total yards in a 61-0 win today over Mississippi Valley State. This is the same team that won at Texas A&M last year.
More on the Red Wolves soon.
You can expect to hear a lot about Zac Lee and Roy Helu over the next few days. The junior duo led Nebraska offensively. Lee completed 15 of 22 throws for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Helu rushed for 152 and three scores.
There's just as much interest after this game in the freshmen QB and I-back. Cody Green and Rex Burkhead looked impressive in their NU debuts. Green led a touchdown drive. He found the end zone on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter after an electrifying, 49-yard burst. The rookie QB completed two of three passes for 18 yards, including a 15-yarder to Chris Brooks.
As for Burkhead, he looked like a veteran. The numbers aren't flashy -- 9 carries for 39 yards and one reception for 9 yards -- but they don't tell the story. The young I-back ran well and made few mistakes. Look for his production to increase in the coming weeks.
A couple observations to wrap the night:
-- Florida Atlantic ran 76 plays to Nebraska's 57 and held the football for 4:36 longer than Nebraska. A year ago, NU ranked second nationally in time of possession. That may not be its game this year. Why? Joe Ganz was a tactician, with receiving targets like Nate Swift and Todd Peterson who were fitted to that style of offense. Lee is a different kind of player. This offense may not be as consistent as it was last season, but the Huskers do seem to possess more explosiveness -- starting with Helu, who looks better than the 2008 Helu.
-- NU forced three turnovers, a giant point of emphasis this offseason. Nebraska caused only 17 turnovers last season and forced more than two in only one game.
-- The margin of victory for Nebraska ranked as its largest since a 56-0 win over Troy in 2006. It was the Huskers' most lopsided win in a season opener since a 76-14 hammering of North Texas in 1993.
-- Arkansas State, by the way, allowed 69 total yards in a 61-0 win today over Mississippi Valley State. ASU beat Texas A&M last season.
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