Blackshirts, Burkhead carry Huskers to win
Nebraska used a stifling defensive effort and school-record performance from I-back Rex Burkhead to pick up its ninth win of the season with 20-7 victory over Iowa in the inaugural Heroes Game.
Burkhead carried a career-high 38 times for 160 yards and a touchdown to increase his season rushing total to 1,268 yards. His 38 totes broke the school record of 37 by Cory Ross in the 2003 Alamo Bowl.
While Burkhead punished the Hawkeye defense on the ground, the Blackshirts forced two turnovers and held the Hawkeyes to 270 total yards, 100 below Iowa’s season average.
Senior Lavonte David led the Blackshirts with eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The Butkus Award semifinalist now has 122 tackles on the season and 274 during his two-year career at Nebraska.
With the win, Nebraska finished the regular season with a 9-3 record, its fourth consecutive nine-win season under Bo Pelini and the program’s 38th in the last 42 years.