Ameer Abdullah ran past everyone, Tommy Armstrong Jr looked capable, Jordan Westerkamp made a catch for the ages and the patented Blackshirts were stout on defense as the Nebraska Cornhuskers cruised to a 55-7 win over the Florida Atlantic Owls.
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Abdullah is the nation’s leading returning rusher after bypassing the NFL Draft after a 1,690-yard season last year when he also ran for nine scores and he picked up right where he left off with a career-high 227 yards on 21 carries. He beat his previous best of 225 yards set last year in the win against Illinois.
His 47-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter put Nebraska up 24-7 and all but wrapped up this afternoon’s game against an overmatched Florida Atlantic team. Terrell Newby also added 107 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.
The run game is supposed to be dominant, but Armstrong is the wild card for this team and after one game, he looks up to the task of leading the Huskers to the Big Ten west title.
Armstrong was 15-29 passing for 271 yards and two touchdowns on the afternoon and added 62 more yards on seven carries and another score as he looked comfortable and poised leading the Husker offense.
He got standout performances from Jordan Westerkamp and Kenny Bell who combined for 11 receptions, 241 yards and a touchdown, but it was a catch by Westerkamp that will have everyone talking for months with his behind-the-back catch.
The offense executed well throughout the day as the passing game complemented the prolific rushing attack but it was the defense that made their mark against the Owls that is most encouraging.
Nebraska forced nine punts from Florida Atlantic, held the Owls to 4-15 on third down, limited them to 3.2 yards per pass attempt on 11-30 passing and allowed a total of 200 yards, far less than the 779 the Husker offense produced.
Florida Atlantic did not score after the 4:56 mark of the first quarter as Nebraska outscored them 49-0 after the lone score by the Owls. I think they were upset they lost the shutout.
Nebraska hosts McNeese State next week at 11:00 am CT with the game televised on ESPNU