LINCOLN, Neb. — Redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 136 yards in a sensational debut that led No. 8 Nebraska over Western Kentucky.
Martinez, the only redshirt or true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Nebraska (1-0), ran 46 yards for a touchdown on the third play from scrimmage. Coach Bo Pelini kept the identity of his starting QB under wraps until about a half-hour before the game.
Bobby Rainey ran 30 times for a career-high 155 yards and a touchdown for Western Kentucky (0-1).
· North Dakota State 6, Kansas 3
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Ryan Jastram kicked two field goals and North Dakota State’s defense smothered Kansas in a season-opening 6-3 victory Saturday night.
The first-ever victory for the FCS Bison over a current member of the Big 12 spoiled the coaching debut of Kansas’ Turner Gill. Jastram snapped a 3-3 tie with a 32-yard field goal at the 8:04 mark of the third quarter.
Kansas struggled throughout on offense and switched to backup quarterback Jordan Webb in the second half. The hopes for Kansas faded on its next-to-last possession when Tim Biere fumbled at the Kansas 36 following a reception and a big hit by Daniel Eaves.
· Kansas State 31, UCLA 22: MANHATTAN, Kan. — Daniel Thomas rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns and Kansas State rallied for a 31-22 victory over UCLA Saturday before a crowd of 51,059, the biggest for a home opener in Wildcat history.
There were three touchdowns in the final 123 seconds and Kansas State had two, including Thomas’ 35-yard gallop after the Wildcats fell on UCLA’s onside kick.
Thomas, the Big 12’s leading rusher last year, set up scores with several big runs, including one for 44 yards and another for 29. His 28 carries and 235 yards were both career highs.
· Missouri 23, Illinois 13: ST. LOUIS — Blaine Gabbert rallied Missouri from a 10-point halftime deficit with two touchdown passes and Carl Gettis made a leaping one-handed interception and downed a punt at the 1 in the fourth quarter of an opening 23-13 victory over Illinois on Saturday.
T.J. Moe had 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, and the Tigers’ defense shut out Illinois in the second half. Kenji Jackson also intercepted Nathan Scheelhaase in the fourth quarter to help seal it for Missouri, which finished the neutral-site Arch Rivalry series with six straight victories.
· Texas A&M 48, Stephen F. Austin 7: COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Christine Michael rushed for 105 yards and Texas A&M’s defense showed obvious improvement from last season in the Aggies’ 48-7 season-opening victory Saturday night over lower-division Stephen F. Austin.
A&M senior quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who set eight school records in 2009, completed 23 of 35 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. The Aggies finished with 539 yards — 236 coming on 60 running plays.
The A&M defense, one of the nation’s worst last year, held Stephen F. Austin to 266 yards and 13 first downs. The Aggies have switched to a 3-4 alignment this season under new coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who replaced the retired Joe Kines in the offseason.
· Colorado 24, CSU 3: DENVER — Scotty McKnight became Colorado’s career receptions leader with a 27-yard touchdown grab that sparked the Buffaloes to a 24-3 season-opening win over archrival Colorado State in the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown on Saturday.
McKnight’s 168th career catch broke the mark set by Michael Westbrook from 1991-94. The senior finished with six catches for 78 yards.
· Baylor 34, Sam Houston State 3: WACO, Texas — Robert Griffin looked as good as ever on his surgically repaired right knee, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another to lead Baylor past Sam Houston State 34-3 Saturday night.
— AP
