• Box Score: Red 21, White 16
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• Photo Showcase: Husker spring game
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• Photo Showcase: Husker fans at Saturday's spring game
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• Video: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini speaks at the postgame press conference after the Huskers' spring game Saturday:
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Get more coverage on the Big Red Today's football page.
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LINCOLN — Four plays into the Red-White scrimmage on Saturday, quarterback Taylor Martinez already had run the football three times for his Nebraska unit.
The redshirt freshman darted off on zone reads on the first two downs, going left for 6 yards and right for 2. On the first designed pass play, he tucked the ball and ran for 7.
“Before the game today, I sat him down and I was like, ‘Martinez, do not run it every time,’” Husker receiver Brandon Kinnie said, smiling. “He did, of course. I don’t know how many times I came back and said, ‘Martinez, throw the ball, man. Throw it.’ ”
It was all in fun, but Kinnie might want to get used to it.
The spring game put the Nebraska quarterbacks on display as the Red team beat the White 21-16 before a Memorial Stadium crowd of 77,936. And although each only played a half, Martinez carried nine times for the Red and Cody Green five times for the White.
The 2009 signees are part of an obvious change in what the Huskers are looking for at quarterback, which offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said coincides with how the game and defenses have changed.
“That’s my job and that’s our job as an offensive staff is to evolve,” Watson said. “So the quarterback run game is an important element of our offense. We’ve spent a lot of time learning it, enhancing it — by studying others that we have respect for and then coming up with our own twists, obviously.”
One twist is that Martinez is fast, shifty and hard to contain. Another is that Green is big and willing and capable of hitting a long stride.
If you go back to how last season ended, you’ll also recall that Zac Lee carried the football 18 times in the Holiday Bowl.
When Nebraska reconvenes for preseason practice in August, those three will lock up in a quarterback race that not only will be closely watched but could determine just how far the Huskers can go next season.
“None of them are out of it now,” Watson said. “I mean, we’re putting them all in it and may the best man win. It’s good for our football team and it’s good for them. It’s going to make us better.”
Nebraska concluded spring practice Saturday with its roster split fairly even for the 107-play scrimmage. The White took its only lead on a 32-yard field goal by Adi Kunalic in the final minute of the third quarter before the Red answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Kody Spano to Ryan Hill midway through the fourth.
By then, Martinez and Green and most of the first- and second-teamers had taken a seat — and left fans with something to digest over the next few months.
“I thought they did fine,” coach Bo Pelini said of the quarterbacks. “They did some good things. They did some things they need to work on.’’
Martinez gained at least 6 yards on five of his nine rushing attempts and finished with 60. He also completed 5 of 9 passes, including touchdowns of 6 yards to fullback Tyler Legate and 36 yards to Kinnie, who was wrapped up just inside the 15 but bulled his way into the end zone with help from teammates.
Senior safety Rickey Thenarse intercepted Martinez — on a pass broken up by Alfonzo Dennard — but later talked of the trouble the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder had been creating for the defense through the spring.
“He’s so elusive and fast,” Thenarse said, “that he’s tough to contain.”
It’s a skill set, Watson said, that can’t be taught.
“He can put his foot in the dirt and go,” Watson said. “He’s an instinctive runner. Something breaks down, he can make something big for an offense and can hurt a defense. That’s what he’s brought to the table since he’s been here, and he’s getting better and better as a passer.”
The 6-4, 225-pound Green had runs of 5 yards on his first series and 6 on his second, then ran two more times to start his third one. A 7-yard sack just before halftime left him with 12 yards on five carries.
Green’s highlight, however, was a 72-yard touchdown pass to Will Henry that showed off his arm. The sophomore who started two games last season finished 7 of 15 for 155 yards.
“Cody, I thought, did some really good things with the passing game,” Watson said. “Made some good decisions, made some nice throws. And to be a quarterback in our offense you’ve got to be a guy who can throw the ball, because balance comes from throwing the ball.”
Neither offense was perfect, with the White and Red each having two false-start penalties in the first half. The play clock several times hit :00 before snaps, although not flagged. One trick play worked, another did not.
Lee should be throwing again before long, and Green said the whole quarterback thing hasn’t changed despite the senior missing spring practice.
“It’s still Zac’s job to lose,” Green said. “We all know that, just because he hasn’t been here. Got to give him a chance to get in there and compete with us.
“This spring has really helped out everybody. You can see, we’re all playing at a high level.”
Contact the writer:
444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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• Video: Highlights from Nebraska's Red-White game on Saturday:
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