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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, September 26, 2009

CFB Top 25: No. 25 Nebraska beats Ragin Cajuns' 55-0


ERIC OLSON
AP Sports Writer

LINCOLN, Neb. — Zac Lee passed for 238 yards and a touchdown, Roy Helu Jr. scored twice and No. 25 Nebraska celebrated its 300th consecutive sellout with a 55-0 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette tonight.

The Cornhuskers (3-1), coming off a devastating 16-15 loss at Virginia Tech last week, beat up on an opponent from the Sun Belt Conference for the third time this season. Nebraska outscored Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Lafayette by a combined 142-12.

The Huskers scored on their first five possessions against the Ragin' Cajuns (2-2) before Larry Asante ran back an interception 74 yards to put Nebraska up 34-0 in the middle of the second quarter.

Nebraska wore throwback uniforms from 1962, when its NCAA-record sellout streak began. There also was a pregame ceremony honoring members of the '62 team.

The Huskers posted their first shutout since a 56-0 win over Troy in 2006. The Cajuns, 1-23 all-time against ranked opponents, were held scoreless for the first time since a 27-0 to North Texas in 2002.

Lee, who struggled against Virginia Tech, was sharp despite playing with a broken left thumb. He throws right-handed, though, and he completed 15 of 18 passes before Cody Green entered in the middle of the third quarter and led the Huskers to two touchdowns. Green hit 7 of 8 passes for 62 yards.

Nebraska's first TD came when Helu, who ran for 83 yards, fumbled into the end zone on first-and-goal from the Lafayette 4 and tight end Ben Cotton recovered.

Lee found Chris Brooks for a 4-yard TD, and Helu scored from 2 yards for a 27-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Chris Masson completed five straight passes in moving the Cajuns from their 20 to the Nebraska 29, but Asante stepped in front of a ball intended for Luke Aubrey, cut to the inside and then outran Masson to the end zone.

The Cajuns made it to the Nebraska 17 late in the third quarter, but Draylon Booker fumbled.

Nebraska's Alex Henery, who kicked five field goals in the 16-15 loss at Virginia Tech last week, made 39- and 46-yarders and now has made 8 of 9 for the season.

Undrea Sails led Lafayette with 41 yards rushing, and Masson completed 13 of 22 passes for 102 yards.