Oregon scores 42 in first half and holds off Nebraska
Justin Herbert threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, and the Oregon Ducks spoiled Mike Riley’s homecoming with a 42-35 victory over Nebraska on Saturday at Eugene, Ore.
Royce Freeman rushed for 153 yards and two scores and Charles Nelson caught eight passes for a career-high 117 yards as the Ducks handed first-year coach Willie Taggart his second straight win to open the season.
The Cornhuskers (1-1) rallied from a 42-14 halftime deficit with three unanswered second-half touchdowns to close the gap, but ultimately fell short.
“Our guys didn’t fold when adversity came,” Taggart said. “That was one thing I was concerned with going in.”
Tanner Lee finished with 252 yards passing and three touchdowns for Nebraska, but he had four passes intercepted, the last on the Cornhuskers’ final drive. Tre Bryant ran for 107 yards and a score but had to be helped off the field after an injury early in the fourth quarter.
Riley had two stints as coach at Oregon State between 1997 and 2014. Saturday was his first trip back to the state for a game since he took over as head coach of Nebraska two seasons ago.
Freshman Thomas Graham Jr. finished with two interceptions for the Ducks. at No. 7 Washington 63, Montana 7: Dante Pettis weaved his way 67 yards for the seventh punt return touchdown of his career, Jake Browning threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, and the Huskies (2-0) breezed.
Montana (1-1) made the unwise decision to punt to Pettis on the final play of the first quarter. The senior, who now holds the Pac-12 record, veered to the sideline nearest where he caught the kick, cut all the way across the field, juked Montana punter Eric Williams and sprinted the final few yards to give the Huskies a 21-7 lead.
Browning also rushed for a career-high 50 yards and a touchdown in five carries.
at California 33, Weber State 20: Patrick Laird ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns to help California rally to beat the lower-level Wildcats.
Coach Justin Wilcox’s home debut for the Golden Bears (2-0) almost turned into a disaster as Cal trailed Weber State (1-1) of the FCS by three points heading into the fourth quarter.
But after Matt Anderson tied the game with a 40-yard field goal early in the fourth, Laird took over.
He carried five times on a seven-play drive following a fumble by Andrew Vollert near midfield.
at Colorado 37, Texas
State 3: Laviska Shenault Jr. ignited lethargic Colorado with a 55-yard score when he picked up a teammate’s fumble on a punt return.
Steven Montez threw a touchdown pass and ran in another score for Colorado (2-0).
Leading 14-0 at halftime, the Buffaloes pulled away in the third quarter against the Bobcats (1-1).
Stagnant on offense, the Buffaloes received a gamechanging boost from the special teams late in the first quarter. Returner Isaiah Oliver fielded a punt, tried to break a tackle and had the ball ripped away. Shenault was there to pick it up and race 55 yards for the score.
Minnesota 48, at Oregon
State 14: The Gophers (2-0) rushed for 253 yards against the Beavers (1-2) and quarterback Conor Rhoda completed seven of eight passes for 158 yards.
Utah 19, at Brigham
Young 13: Tyler Huntley passed for 300 yards and rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown as the Utes (2-0) held off the Cougars (1-2).
Houston 19, at Arizona
16: Kyle Allen passed for 225 yards and one touchdown for the Cougars, who were playing their season opener.
San Diego State 30, at
Arizona State 20: Rashaad Penny ran for 216 yards to lead the Aztecs (2-0) over the Sun Devils (1-1). Boise State at No. 20 Washington State, late