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Anna MostekTribune
Nebraskar Safety Larry Asante (4) reacts on the sideline during the Huskers' 38-9 win over Arkansas State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
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Vince Kuppig
vkuppig@hastingstribune.com
LINCOLN — Another Sun Belt Conference opponent, another rout.
One week after cruising past Florida Atlantic 49-3, the No. 22 Huskers made quick work of Arkansas State in a 38-9 win Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium
Now comes the real test. Virginia Tech. On the road.
"You have to take it one game at a time. If you overlook someone, that's when you're going to get beat," NU senior guard Derek Meyer said. "But in the back of our minds, after what happened last year getting beat by them, we've kind of had this game circled in the back of our heads. And now it's here."
The Hokies, who defeated Nebraska 35-30 last year at Memorial Stadium, are ranked 14th in the nation and have won 31 straight non-conference home game at Lane Stadium.
It'll be the first time Nebraska has played an opponent ranked in the top 25 when the Huskers also are ranked since 2007 when the then-No. 25 Huskers went on the road and were blown out 41-6 to No. 17 Missouri.
Against Arkansas State on Saturday, it was all Nebraska from the get-go.
The Huskers opened the game against the Red Wolves with an eight-play, 80-yard drive that was capped with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zac Lee to redshirt freshman fullback Tyler Legate.
That's the same Arkansas State squad that allowed only 69 total yards in its 61-0 win over Mississippi Valley State the previous week.
Nebraska's second drive also totaled 80 yards and was capped by another touchdown pass.
"That's huge," Meyer of the first two drives. "That was what the coaches preached all week. Last week we came out a little sluggish. I think we went three-and-out. That's not what we're about. We want to make a statement."
Nebraska had 160 yards — 111 of which came through the air via Lee's arm — on 19 snaps in the first quarter for 8.4 yards per play.
Lee didn't let up, finishing with 340 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-35 passing. Fourteen different Huskers caught a pass Saturday.
At one point in the second half, after a 32-yard score to tight end Mike McNeil put NU ahead 31-6, Lee was 19-of-23 for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
The Huskers finished with 494 total yards of offense and didn't turn the ball over once.
"We played a lot better football game as a whole today," said Meyer, a Silver Lake graduate. "Everybody says good football teams make the biggest jump from week one to week two. I think we took a big step forward. That's what we needed to do, especially having to go to Virginia Tech here in a week."
Nebraska finished with 358 passing yards but only 136 on the ground, as the Huskers threw the ball 41 times compared to 28 rushes.
"What'd they give us today? They gave us the pass," NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said, "and we took it."
After head coach Bo Pelini during the week called his defense's play against Florida Atlantic "soft,", the Huskers had four sacks — they had none last week — and held Arkansas State to 274 yards. The Owls had 358 last week.
"We just came out and wanted to be more physical," linebacker Blake Lawrence said. "I think we came out with a lot of energy today and the excitement was there. Physicality was I think a step up from last week. But we're nowhere near where we want to be."
Said Pelini: "I saw some (improvement). I thought we were sloppy at times. That's an area we need to get fixed. We're just not where we need to be yet. We're not as efficient. We're not to the standard that I envision it."
Through two games, Nebraska is averaging 492 yards per game and has outscored its two opponents 87-12.
That's against the Sun Belt Conference, though.
Now comes a BCS opponent on the road.
"I think we're ready," senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. "Only time will tell. I think we will be ready to go on the road.
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