Nebraska Runs Over, Through Penn State

Nebraska went back to the basics, daring Penn State to stop its powerful running game.

Josh Davis carried 32 times for a career-high 179 yards and Jammal Lord rushed for 100 yards in 20 carries in the No. 18 Cornhuskers’ 18-10 victory Saturday night.

Nebraska (3-0) ran on all but six of its 78 plays from scrimmage, piling up 337 yards on the ground.

“Everybody on this team is really well-conditioned, and we just keep pounding,” Davis said.

David Dyches, who kicked four field goals for the second straight game, accounted for all of Nebraska’s scoring until the third quarter.

The Huskers ran the ball on 16 straight plays, moving 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on the opening series of the second half.

Davis carried 10 times for 49 yards before Lord ran in from three yards to finish the drive, which used 8 minutes 12 seconds. Davis was stopped short of the goal line on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the Huskers with a 15-10 lead.

“To open the half with that kind of drive was really big for our players and big in the outcome of the game,” Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said.

Penn State (1-2) moved to midfield midway through the fourth quarter, but Zack Mills fumbled a snap and Nebraska’s Barrett Ruud recovered.

Dyches, who had four field goals in last week’s win over Utah State, kicked a 32-yarder with 3:53 left to make it 18-10.

Mills completed a 31-yard pass to Gerald Smith as Penn State got to the Nebraska 40 on its final drive. But Mills threw four straight incompletions, and Nebraska ran out the clock.