Huskers best Western, 56-17
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BY ERIC OLSON / The Associated Press
Joe Dailey threw for four touchdowns and ran for two others, and Cory Ross and Tierre Green each rushed for more than 100 yards to lead Nebraska to a 56-17 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday night.
New Nebraska coach Bill Callahan promised to end the plodding ways of the triple-option offense when he took over for Frank Solich, and he delivered on an 87-degree night.
Operating in the West Coast offense, Dailey completed 15 of 30 passes for 218 yards, but was intercepted four times in his first career start.
All of Dailey's TD passes and his first scoring run came in the opening 20 minutes as Nebraska broke out to a 35-0 lead and extended the advantage to 42-3 at halftime against the Division I-AA Leathernecks.
Ross ran 13 times for 125 yards, and Green had seven carries for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
The Huskers got sloppy after their fast start, committing six turnovers and the equivalent of two others when they failed to field two pooch kickoffs.
They also gave up a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by James Norris after he carried another 75 yards.
The Huskers reverted back their old ways in the second half, turning to the run after Dailey threw his third interception.
Matt Herian tied a school record for receptions by a tight end with seven catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Six other receivers caught balls for Nebraska.
Nebraska's defense had seven sacks and held the Leathernecks to 220 yards.
Starter Adam Smith was 10-of-15 for 111 yards and a touchdown, and Steve LaFalce was 10-of-26 for 112 yards, with four interceptions.
Travis Glasford, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, was limited to 25 yards on 14 carries.
Dailey scored on a 6-yard run less than two minutes into the game, then he flipped a 5-yard touchdown pass to Herian.
Western Illinois' best chance to make a game of it came when Norris ran back the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the Nebraska 8. But Smith fumbled the snap on first down and the Huskers' Jay Moore recovered.
The Huskers were ahead 21-0 after the first play of the second quarter, with Willie Amos catching a 36-yard pass for his first career reception.
Dailey's other TD passes went 22 and 18 yards, respectively, to Herian and Amos.
The Huskers were woeful on special teams. Kade Pittman muffed two punts and the Leathernecks recovered two short kickoffs that the Huskers failed to field.
After a Kris Coffee punt bounced off Pittman's chest and William Penn recovered, Justin Langan kicked his school career-record 43rd field goal from 24 yards late in the first half for WIU's first points.
WIU's Michael Woods recovered the ensuing flop-shot kick that the Huskers watched hit the ground. The Leathernecks drove to the Nebraska 3 before Ira Cooper intercepted LaFalce to end the threat.
Norris' 98-yard kick return and Boomer Moore's 6-yard touchdown catch accounted for the rest of the Leathernecks' scoring.
Callahan joins the last three Nebraska head coaches — Frank Solich, Tom Osborne and Bob Devaney — as winners in their first games leading the Huskers.
Nebraska won its nation-leading 19 straight opener.
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