The Nebraska Cornhuskers overcame a shaky offensive performance by turning to a dominating defense and a reinvigorated special teams effort to defeat Main 25-7 in the season opener for both teams.

Nebraska's defense tied a team record with 11 sacks and held the Black Bears to 145 total offensive yards to control the game almost throughout. Maine rushed for minus-6 yards in the game. The Blackshirts even provided points of their own when Bo Ruud returned an intercepted pass 27-yards for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

It was Nebraska's special teams that provided the much needed momentum. Terrence Nunn led the way with 135 yards in punt returns. Freshman kicker Jordan Congdon booted four field goals.

Quarterback Zac Taylor made his Cornhusker debut by completing 15 of 36 passes for 192 yards including a 73 yard strike to Franz Hardy. Taylor was intercepted twice.

Cory Ross led all rushers with 80 yards on 20 carries. He provided Nebraska's only offensive touchdown with a 1-yard run in the second quarter.

Nebraska's offense sputtered often in the game. Four times they faced a first-and-goal and tallied only one touchdown and one field goal as a result.

Maine avoided the shutout early in the fourth quarter with a 52-yard pass from Ron Whitcomb to Kevin McMahan.

After a scoreless first quarter Nebraska slowly crept out to a 15-0 lead after three periods. Congdon conncted on a 23-yard attempt with 5:21 left in the first half. After Maine's next drive stalled, Trevor Nunn electrified the crowd with a 62 yard punt return down to the one-yard line. Ross took it in on the next play to give the Huskers a 9-0 halftime margin.

Two more Congdon field goals of 38 and 33 yards stretched the lead to 15-0 at the end of the third but Maine wouldn't go quietly.

After notching their first score to move within 8 points of the Huskers, Maine recovereda Ross fumble at their own 43 yard line. But Nebraska's defense held tight and forced a punt.

Nebraska's offense stalled once again and punted the ball back over with 10 minutes still remaining. With the ball at the 24 yard line, Whitcomb's first pass atempt of th edrive was picked off by Ruud and returned for a touchdown. Nebraska now had breathing room with a 22-7 lead with 9:58 remaining.

Congdon added a 23-yard field goal to provide the final margin.