Rutgers wilts in 2nd half at Nebraska
LINCOLN, NEB. » Tanner Lee led Nebraska on a 97-yard scoring drive for the go-ahead touchdown after Rutgers returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Cornhuskers shook off the Scarlet Knights in the second half for a 27-17 win Saturday.
Devine Ozigbo ran for 101 yards as the Huskers (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten) picked up a much-needed victory for coach Mike Riley two days after athletic director Shawn Eichorst was fired following last week’s humiliating home loss to Northern Illinois. Rutgers (1-3, 0-1) lost its 15th straight Big Ten game.
Kiy Hester intercepted Lee and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown and a 17-14 Rutgers lead early in the third quarter.
Lee — who has thrown a nationhigh nine interceptions, including two run back for TDs by Northern Illinois — got booed when he returned for the next series, and the Huskers went three-and-out.
The Tulane transfer then directed a 17-play drive he finished with an 8-yard pass to De’Mornay Pierson-El for a 2117 lead. Drew Brown kicked field goals of 32 and 27 yards in the fourth quarter to make it a 10-point game.
The Knights came to Lincoln having not led in a Big Ten game in 13 quarters since last November. They had leads of 7-0 and 10-7 in the first half before Pierson-El ran back a punt 63 yards to set up Mikale Wilson’s 4-yard touchdown run that put the Huskers up 14-10 at half.
Rutgers was without playmaker Janarion Grant, who missed the last eight games in 2016 because of a broken ankle and was hurt in the second quarter last week against Morgan State.
The Knights turned in a game effort in a tough road environment a week after ending an 11-game losing streak. For a team lacking much offensive firepower, the absence of Grant was glaring. NO. 1 ALABAMA 59, VANDERBILT 0 NASHVILLE, TENN. » Damien Harris ran for a career-high 151 yards and three touchdowns, Bo Scarbrough added two TDs and top-ranked Alabama routed Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
NO. 2 CLEMSON 34, BOSTON COLLEGE 7 CLEMSON, S.C. » Adam Choice had a 6-yard tiebreaking touchdown in the fourth quarter and Travis Etienne had two scoring runs in the final six minutes as the Tigers wore down Boston College. NO. 10 OHIO STATE 54, UNLV 21 COLUMBUS, OHIO » J.T. Barrett threw touchdown passes to five different receivers in the first half, and the Buckeyes cruised to a win over the Rebels. Barrett completed 12 of 17 passes for 209 yards before handing the game over to backup Dwayne Haskins near the end of the first half.
NC STATE 27, NO. 12 FLORIDA STATE 21 TALLAHASSEE, FLA. » Ryan Finley threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns as North Carolina State got its first road win over a ranked team since 2008, defeating the Seminoles. NO. 13 VIRGINIA TECH 38,
OLD DOMINION 0 BLACKSBURG, VA. » Josh Jackson threw for three touchdowns and Steven Peoples scored three, leading the Hokies past the Monarchs.
NO. 19 LOUISVILLE 42, KENT STATE 3 LOUISVILLE, KY. » Lamar Jackson accounted for three touchdowns to set a Louisville career record and lead the Cardinals to a victory. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns on 18of-22 passing.