Martinez, Huskers run past Mocs

• Box Score: Nebraska 40, UT-Chattanooga 7
• Photo Showcase: NU vs. Chattanooga, Sept. 3 (fans)
• Photo Showcase: NU vs. Chattanooga, Sept. 3 (action)
• Video Below: See NU coach Bo Pelini and players at the postgame press conference
• For More Coverage: Check out Big Red Today for comprehensive game day news and analysis

* * *

LINCOLN — Taylor Martinez tried his best to get Tim Beck's first offense off to a running start Saturday as Nebraska opened its 122nd season of football with a 40-7 victory over Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The sophomore quarterback ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns, and also threw for 116 yards against the Mocs.

With Beck serving as the Huskers' offensive coordinator for the first time, Martinez led NU with an up-tempo, no-huddle attack that mixed in some option football and even included the fullback getting a carry (but just one).

The final damage was 364 total yards — but just one late turnover and just one penalty by the offense — before a crowd of 84,883, the 312th consecutive sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium.

Martinez started 12 games last season as a redshirt freshman, when Shawn Watson was offensive coordinator and Beck coached the NU running backs. Beck was elevated to offensive coordinator last winter by head coach Bo Pelini.

On Saturday, Nebraska fans got their first glimpse of how things will change.

After Nebraska punted on its first possession, it followed with a four-play, 63-yard scoring drive that Martinez capped with a 7-yard scoring run. The touchdown was set up by Martinez pitching to I-back Rex Burkhead for a career-long 52-yard run on the play before.

Brett Maher kicked field goals of 50 and 48 yards on the Huskers' next two series to make it 13-0. Maher finished with four field goals in his first game after replacing Alex Henery, the school's all-time leading scorer and the most accurate field-goal kicker in NCAA history.

Martinez bumped the Husker lead to 20-0 with a 43-yard TD run with 2:07 left in the first half. NU was facing fourth-and-1 when Martinez audibled out of a call and then raced around the left edge.

Taking over again with just under a minute left in the first half, Martinez had completions of 13 yards to Quincy Enunwa and 27 to Ben Cotton to set up Maher's third kick, a 34-yard with 10 seconds left.

Tennessee-Chattanooga got on the scoreboard with a seven-play, 72-yard drive starting the second half. The touchdown came on a 13-yard pass from B.J. Coleman to Marlon Anthony, who took advantage of cornerback Andrew Green tripping up in coverage.

Nebraska had first-and-goal at the UTC 6 on its next series but had to settle for a field goal. It then piled on 14 quick points to put away its Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

Jared Crick tipped a pass that Cameron Meredith intercepted and took to the Mocs' 3. Burkhead scored on the next play to make it 33-7.

After a UTC punt, Martinez immediately took off on a 47-yard run for his final touchdown. The lead was then 40-7 with 6:08 left in the third quarter.

Meredith speared the Husker defense with two sacks to go with his interception. Enunwa helped the offense with four receptions for 58 yards.

* * *

• For More Coverage: Check out Big Red Today for comprehensive game day news and analysis


* * *

• Video: See NU coach Bo Pelini at the postgame press conference:



• Video: See NU's Taylor Martinez at the postgame press conference:



• Video: See NU's Cameron Meredith at the postgame press conference:



• Video: See NU's Rex Burkhead at the postgame press conference:

« News

Share