(Las Vegas, NV) — Utah completely dismantled Nebraska on Wednesday in the Las Vegas Bowl, winning 44-22.
The Huskers got the first score of the game on a Mekhi Nelson 38 yard TD run. The Utes got a big play on their first drive of the game — Devon Dampier hit Dallen Bentley for a 45 yard pass and that set up a 2 yard TD run from Dampier to tie the game 7-7.
Nebraska answered right away with a 12 play drive — T.J. Lateef found Isaiah Mozee for a 16 yard pass play on 3rd and 5 and on the next play, Lateef connected with Nelson for a catch and run for 24 yards. That set up an 8 yard TD pass to Jacory Barney and Nebraska led 14-7.
That was about all the highlights for the Huskers — the Utes scored 17 straight points in the 2nd quarter as Dampier threw a 20 yard TD pass to JJ Buchanan and Dampier scampered 11 yards for a TD just before the end of the first half to lead 24-14.
Utah scored TDs on their first two possessions of the 2nd half on a NaQuari Rodgers 3 yard run and another score by Dampier to make it 38-14. Nebraska, meanwhile, went 3 and out on their first two drives of the second half and only had 1 first down in the third quarter.
Nebraska forced a 3 and out early in the 4th quarter but Lateef was picked off and Utah turned it into a Dampier 17 yard TD pass to Bentley to put the game away.
Nebraska (7-6) was led by Nelson with 12 carries for 88 yards and a TD. Lateef was 15-28 passing for 182 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
Utah (11-2) was led by Dampier who was 19-31 passing for 310 yards and 2 TD plus 19 carries for 148 yards and 3 rushing TD.
