Wolverines’ romp latest Huskers’ woe
ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Karan Higdon ran for 136 yards and a touchdown in the fifirst half to help No. 19 Michigan build a huge lead and it coasted to a 56-10 win over Nebraska on Saturday.
The Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) led 20-0 after the fifirst quarter and 39-0 at halftime.
The Corn huskers (0-3, 0-1 ) are off to t heir worst start since 1945. They have lost seven in a row dating to last season for the fifirst time since 1957.
Michigan rested Higdon, who missed t he previous game with an injury, in the second half. Quarterback Shea Patterson played only the fifirst series of the second half, giving Dylan McCaffrey an extended opportunity to play.
Patterson was 15 of 22 for 120 yards with a 5-yard TD pass to Zach Gentry midway through the second quarter that put the Wolverines ahead 30-0.
Fullback Ben Mason ran for three touchdowns — for a total of 6 yards — to match the number of times he had scored previously.
Nebraska quarter back Adrian Martinez was cleared to play after missing last week’s loss to Troy because of a knee injury. The freshman was 7 of 15 for 22 yards with an interception and he lost 12 yards rushing.
Martinez batted down the football from the end zone after his fifirst attempt on a play was deflflected back to him, giving Michigan a safety and a 39-0 lead.
While trailing 56-3, the Cornhuskers had lost more yards due to penalties ( 66) than they had gained on offense (61) early in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska fifinished with 39 yards rushing and 93 yards passing.
The Wolverines have won three straight games by lopsided scores after opening with as even-point loss at Notre Dame.