Nebraska turns back Fresno St. upset bid 42-29

Posted September 10, 2011 12:00 am

Associated Press

Nebraskas Tyler Moore, center, protects quarterback Taylor Martinez (3) from Fresno States Tristan Okpalaugo (88) in the first half Saturday night. Associated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. — Ameer Abdullah returned a kickoff 100 yards after Fresno State made it a two-point game in the fourth quarter, and Taylor Martinez’s 46-yard touchdown run secured the 10th-ranked Cornhuskers’ 42-29 victory on Saturday night.

Martinez ran 15 times for 166 yards and two TDs and passed for another as the Huskers turned back an upset bid by the Bulldogs, who were four-touchdown underdogs.

Derek Carr threw incomplete to a well-covered A.J. Johnson on a 2-point try after his 26-yard TD pass to Josh Harper pulled the Bulldogs to 28-26.

Abdullah, who set a school record with 211 kick return yards, then made the biggest play of the night to break open the game.

Fresno’s Robbie Rouse ran 36 times for 169 yards and Carr was 20 of 41 for 254 yards.

Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr, left, throws under pressure from Nebraskas Baker Steinkuhler in the first half Saturday night. Associated Press

Nebraskas Ben Cotton, left, catches a pass from quarterback Taylor Martinez in the first half Saturday night. Associated Press

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