Huskers again blow out Gophers grids

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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Nebraska and Minnesota may have met for the first time in 21 years on Saturday, but the result remained the same.

Taylor Martinez passed for a touchdown and Rex Burkhead ran for another, as the 13th-ranked Cornhuskers beat the Golden Gophers, 41-14, at TCF Bank Stadium.

Martinez completed 13-of-22 throws for 162 yards and added 52 yards on the ground, while Burkhead gained 117 yards on 23 carries.

Nebraska (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) has won 15 straight over Minnesota (1-6, 0-3), outscoring the Gophers 594-114 since losing in Lincoln on September 24, 1960.

MarQueis Gray ran for the first of Minnesota's two second-half touchdowns, but finished with just 122 yards on 9-of-18 passing while committing a turnover that led to a Nebraska score.

Coming off their bye week, the Cornhuskers opened the scoring when Brett Maher connected on a 22-yard field goal. Nebraska's second possession ended with Martinez and Tyler Legate hooking up for a 10-yard touchdown.

Minnesota punted to begin the second quarter, and it didn't take Nebraska long to extend its lead. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Kenny Bell took the ball on a reverse and sprinted 82 yards for the touchdown.

After Maher kicked a 25-yard field goal, Nebraska's Austin Cassidy picked up a Gray fumble and returned the ball 11 yards to the end zone.

The visitors then upped their advantage to 34-0 with 33 seconds left in the first half when Burkhead rushed in from four-yards away to cap a 14-play, 73- yard drive.

After Gray put Minnesota on the board in the third quarter, Nebraska made it 41-7 by going 91-yards in 17 plays. Aaron Green finished the drive with a four-yard dash to the end zone.

Minnesota's Duane Bennett ran for six-yard touchdown late in regulation to account for the final score.

Tags: minnesota sports, proam, gophers, football