The Nebraska Cornhuskers set out to show the country they still had something special. They proved that with a convincing 48-10 victory over Arizona State behind stellar special teams, a special defense and a special newcomer in Demorrio Williams.

With the help of a third quarter blocked punt by Williams that was run in for a touchdown they were able to open things up scoring two touchdowns in a two-minute span. They blew things wide up in the fourth by scoring twice in fifteen seconds thanks to an interception for a touchdown by freshman Fabian Washington.

"Demorrio Williams has got one speed. That speed shows every time the ball is snapped," said Husker head coach Frank Solich.

The Huskers offense sputtered a bit at the start. With Jammal Lord starting his first game at quarterback the Huskers produced a field goal on their opening drive, but still found themselves tied 3-3 at the end of the first period.

Lord found himself under pressure from the Arizona defense for much of the game. He responded by turning in some flashing scrambles. He finished the game with 103 yards on 17 carries. He also completing five-of-13 passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Lord was in the media spotlight much of the off season as the heir to Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.

"I'm not trying to prove anything to anybody I just want to go out there and have fun and make the stats and the scoreboard a statement by themselves," Lord said.

At halftime Nebraska held a slim 10-3 lead. The touchdown came following a nine play drive capped by a 2 yard Judd Davies run. Lord provided the big plays including a 33 yard scramble and an 8 yard run on a fourth-and-3 situation at the NU 32.

The complexion of the game changed from the start of the third period.

A poor return on the opening kickoff put the Sun Devils in a quick hole at their own 6 yard line. Three plays later ASU was pinned on their goal line with a quarterback sack. A bad punt gave Nebraska great field position at the ASU 20.

Nebraska pounded the ball on the ground down to the nine, but went to the air for the clincher with a 9 yard pass from Lord to a wide open Wilson Thomas.

On the ensuing Sun Devil drive they once again found themselves pinned down inside their own ten yard line. On fourth down Williams darted in from the left side and blocked the punt. Scott Shanle picked up the ball and rumbled in for the touchdown giving Nebraska a 24-3 lead midway through the third period.

Arizona State made their final move late in the third when Mike Williams broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run to pull within 24-10.

Nebraska put the game away in the fourth period. The Huskers scored on their first three drives of the quarter. A 42 yard Josh Brown field goal made it 27-10, then the Husker defense set up another touchdown with a blocked punt by Lannie Hopkins that gave the Huskers the ball at the ASU nine yard line. Two plays later Dahrran Diedrick dove in for the score.

The backups were inserted at that point, but it didn't slow the Huskers down.

I-Back Corey Ross sprinted 35 yards for a touchdown with 2:10 left in the game. On the next play from scrimmage Fabian Washington picked off an Arizona State pass and ran it in for another score to finish the scoring.

The win put a good start on a season that has many observers wondering if this is the year the Huskers begin to decline.

Senior rush end Chris Kelsay brushes off that criticism.

"We proved to ourselves what kind of potential this team has whether or not we proved it to anybody else," said Kelsay. "I'm not worried about the criticism. I'm not worried about the outsiders. We're going to take of business because we want to for ourselves,"