SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 7, 2013

No. 19 Nebraska 56, Southern Mississippi 13: Taylor Martinez passed for three touchdowns and Ameer Abdullah rushed for 114 yards and two scores as the Cornhuskers routed the Golden Eagles.

Stanley Jean-Baptiste and Ciante Evans each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the opening quarter and Nebraska (2-0) led by 29 points at halftime. Southern Mississippi (0-2) possesses the longest active losing streak among FBS schools with 14 straight defeats.

Jean-Baptiste intercepted Golden Eagles quarterback Allan Bridgford and returned it 43 yards just 73 seconds into the game and Evans picked off a deflection for his first of two interceptions and scooted 22 yards to make it 21-3 with 1:17 left in the quarter. Martinez teamed up with Quincy Enunwa on a 16-yard aerial between the two defensive scores.

Abdullah scored on a 3-yard run with 7:01 left in the first half and Martinez tossed a 21-yard scoring aerial to Kenny Bell 12 seconds before halftime for a 35-6 advantage.

Bridgford threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Rickey Bradley early in the third quarter before Abdullah scored on a 37-yard run and Martinez connected with Sam Burtch on a 26-yard scoring play to make it 49-13. Imami Cross added a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Abdullah topped 100 yards in both games this season and eight times in his career. … Bridgford threw three interceptions and backup Nick Mullens tossed one and the Golden Eagles have thrown eight interceptions in two games. … The Cornhuskers had 285 rushing yards and a 479-284 edge in total offense.