By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
MANHATTAN, Kan. – If this is the destiny of the Farewell Tour, then the rest of the Big 12 Conference should be on (Big) Red Alert.
In its final trip here, the sixth-ranked Cornhuskers made sure that Kansas State was put in its place. The Wildcats entered the game 4-0 overall and 1-0 in Conference play. With the wizardry of Bill Snyder on their sideline, K-State fans were hoping for an upset to send Nebraska on its way to its new conference.
"We are a motivated football team," said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, whose team plays host to Texas on Oct. 16. "We have goals but that (final Big 12 season) is part of it. We are going to play all of these teams in the Big 12 for one last time. There's probably motivation on both sides."
The Huskers (5-0, 1-0) left no doubt. It appeared that both Snyder and Nebraska coach Bo Pelini wanted to get home for the 10 o'clock news. Of the 123 offensive plays, 81 were runs. Nebraska had a decisive edge, gaining 451 yards on the ground; Kansas State had 315 in total offense.
The difference was that Kansas State's offense, even with Daniel Thomas, the nation's fifth-leading rusher, was a Commodore 64 operating on a dial-up modem. Nebraska, with redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez the Pentium chip, was jazzier and speedier than anything Bill Gates or Steve Jobs can dream up.
Martinez had touchdown runs of 14, 35, 80 and 41 yards. He finished with 259 yards on 15 carries and while completing a modest five-of-seven passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. His 369 yards of total offense set a school record for a freshman.
"That's an honor to do something like that," said Martinez, who was even fast getting to the locker room and avoiding an ESPN post-game interview on the field. "Pretty much everything we were calling was working. This offense can be pretty explosive. I just do what I can do, make plays."
Nebraska's first two touchdown drives each required eight plays and consumed 8:21 of clock time. After the Huskers warmed up, their three touchdowns in the second half came on drives that totaled six plays and took 1:56.
"Tonight, it was easy calling plays," Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. "And when Taylor is playing like that, it's even easier. He still has a lot of work to do but he's a fierce competitor. All he wants to do is play ball and make plays. He's an explosive runner and his first step … he's at full speed."
In the first half, each team had four meaningful possessions. Kansas State's game plan was to grind the clock with its ground game, featuring Thomas left, Thomas right, Thomas up the middle.
The problem? The Wildcats could only produce a field goal. And when Kansas State had its first three and out, Nebraska capitalized. Martinez broke free for a 54-yard sprint past the Wildcats' sideline and only a supreme chase down by reserve corner back David Garrett saved a touchdown.
When the drive stalled, Alex Henery's 39-yard field goal restored Nebraska's 14-point edge. And with Martinez a threat to score on any play, Nebraska had the decisive edge.
"We did well enough in the kicking game and everything else fell on its face," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "Taylor Martinez is an extremely fine football player but they have an awfully good offensive line and some receivers that were knocking people down left and right. It takes more than just one individual."
There's a reason why his teammates call Martinez T-Magic. He doesn't pull rabbits out of his hat but he can make something out of nothing.
Nebraska's first touchdown was a 14-yard Martinez run. Sophomore running back Rex Burkhead, lined up next to Martinez in the shotgun, who bobbled the shotgun snap. Watson said it was a "great read" by Martinez but it appeared he turned a lemon into lemonade.
On Nebraska's first series of the second half, Martinez went the wrong way on a hand off and was tackled for no gain. His second-down pass was a deep overthrow.
On third and 10, he went up the middle on a quarterback draw. The whole was huge, but your Average College Quarterback probably would have been tackled after gaining first-down yardage. Was it Your Humble Correspondent's imagination or did Martinez leave scorch marks on the FieldTurf during his 80-yard TD run.
Martinez said he was timed at 4.4 in the 40 as a high school junior. Asked if Nebraska has ever clocked Martinez, Pelini said, "No. He's fast enough."
The Huskers' next possession was a one-play, one touchdown series. Roy Helu Jr. went 68 yards untouched off the right side on a zone read. Martinez flowed to the left and most of the Wildcats' defenders followed.
So, is Taylor Martinez (Denard) Robinson Lite? Or is Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (Taylor) Martinez Lite?
"He's a great player, he's awesome," Martinez said of Robinson, who is averaging 382 yards a game in total offense.
Fans in the Big Ten can't wait for the Huskers and the Wolverines to hook up. (By the way, it's scheduled for Nov. 19, 2011 in Ann Arbor).
And Kansas State's defense is probably glad Thursday was the last time they have to smell the fumes of T-Magic's afterburner.