BIG EIGHT ROUNDUP : Nebraska Rolls Over Northern Illinois, 60-14

A Nebraska offense that was largely controlled in last week’s opener against Baylor got the opportunity to turn itself loose Saturday against Northern Illinois.

Running back Leodis Flowers rushed for a career-high 124 yards and quarterback Mickey Joseph accounted for two scores in his first start as the No. 10 Cornhuskers crushed Northern Illinois, 60-14, at Lincoln, Neb.

“We scored a little better today, but it’s the relative strength of who you play,” said Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne, whose team struggled to a 13-0 victory over Baylor.

Joseph, a junior filling in for injured Mike Grant, rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries and completed four of 11 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Nebraska (2-0) jumped to a 16-0 lead against the Huskies (1-1) in the first 10 minutes. Joseph scored on a one-yard run, and the Cornhuskers added a safety when Pat Tyrance and Mike Croel tackled Northern Illinois quarterback Stacey Robinson in the end zone.

After the free kick, Nebraska scored on a 20-yard pass play from Joseph to tight end Chris Garrett.

Former Anaheim Servite running back Derek Brown, a freshman running back, scored two late touchdowns for the Cornhuskers on runs of one and 59 yards.

Texas Christian 20, Missouri 19--Sophomore quarterback Leon Clay came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including one for 10 yards to Stephen Shipley with 1:03 left that gave the Horned Frogs the victory at Columbia, Mo.

Clay, who replaced starting quarterback Matt Vogler to revive a sagging TCU attack, completed 15 of 25 passes for 172 yards and guided the Horned Frogs (1-1) on 78, 76 and 52-yard scoring drives.

TCU’s comeback spoiled a 334-yard passing performance by Missouri’s Kent Kiefer as the Tigers (0-1) lost their season opener for the first time in five seasons.

In the second quarter, Kiefer had connected with Linzy Collins on touchdown pass plays of 68 and 61 yards, and Niu Sale returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown.

Tony Rand intercepted a Kiefer pass to set up TCU’s game-winning drive.

Kansas State 27, Western Illinois 6--Frank Hernandez and Michael Smith each had more than 100 yards receiving as the Wildcats (1-0) gained only their fifth victory since 1984 with the win at Manhattan, Kan.

Hernandez had five receptions for 137 yards and Smith had five receptions for 107, the first time two Kansas State receivers ever totaled more than 100 yards each in a game.

The Wildcats won their first season opener since beating Western Illinois (0-2) 35-7 in 1986.