Berringer Leads Nebraska, 45-17 : Big Eight: Quarterback passes for 267 yards in victory over Kansas, most for a Cornhusker since 1972.

Brook Berringer has proven himself yet again as Nebraska’s quarterback.

Even after directing Nebraska’s 24-7 victory over powerful Colorado a week ago, Berringer’s talents had been questioned. Colorado Coach Bill McCartney said Berringer, who stepped in when blood clots sidelined Tommie Frazier in late September, had to prove he could throw to wide receivers instead of only the tight ends.

On Saturday, the wideouts were busy. Berringer threw for two touchdowns and Lawrence Phillips ran for two as No. 1 Nebraska beat Kansas, 45-17.

“I’m done proving myself so don’t even ask,” Berringer said. “Our game plan was formed around what Bill McCartney said last week. We had to get the ball to the split ends, the receivers to prove ourselves, so that’s what we did.”

Berringer completed 13 of 18 passes for 267 yards, the most for a Nebraska quarterback since David Humm’s 267 against Missouri in 1972.

Nebraska, 10-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Eight, also got its 10th consecutive 100-yard effort from Phillips. The sophomore from Baldwin Park, held to 35 yards in 11 carries in the first half, finished with 153 in 21 tries with touchdown runs of four and 22 yards.

With Kansas (5-4, 2-3) taking early aim at Phillips, Berringer went to the air, completing eight of 10 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns by halftime. Reggie Baul hauled in a 51-yard scoring pass and another covered 64 yards to Clester Johnson.

“They crowded the run so we thought we had to get them off our backs,” Coach Tom Osborne said. “So we threw the ball deep more than usual today. They were supporting with the secondary very fast. As a result they were a little more vulnerable to the deep ball.”

The Cornhuskers also got touchdowns on fullback Cory Schlesinger’s 40-yard run and an eight-yarder by his backup, Jeff Makovicka, as Nebraska took a 38-10 lead.

Phillips broke the Nebraska sophomore rushing record by pushing his total to 1,489. The old mark of 1,342 was set by Bobby Reynolds in 1950.