Black Bears buried under Nebraska rush

Jordan Congdon kicked four field goals and Nebraska had 11 sacks and scored a defensive touchdown to make up for an uninspired offensive effort in a 25-7 win over Maine last night in Lincoln, Neb.

The Division 1-AA Black Bears never penetrated deeper than the Nebraska 44 until Ron Whitcomb's 52-yard touchdown pass to Kevin McMahan drew them to 15-7 with 11:57 left.

Nebraska linebacker Bo Ruud ran back an interception 27 yards for a touchdown two minutes later and Congdon added a 23-yard field goal to break open the game.

The Cornhuskers, aiming for a turnaround in the powerhouse Big 12, turned the ball over five times, including twice inside the Maine 5 in the second quarter.

The Black Bears, who beat Mississippi State, 9-7, last season, struggled mightily before a crowd of 77,469 that was more than double the total attendance of their five home games last season.

Whitcomb was sacked four times in a span of eight plays in the second quarter. The 11 sacks tied the Nebraska record set in 1989 against Oregon State.

The Black Bears netted minus-6 yards rushing and finished with 145 total yards.

URI 34, Fordham 20 -- Quarterback Jayson Davis and Chad Campbell each ran for two TDs as Rhode Island opened its season victoriously in South Kingstown, R.I.

URI compiled 525 yards of total offense, including 387 on the ground.

Davis scored on a 2-yard run at 7:05 of the third quarter and on a 16-yard run at 13:39 of the fourth as URI took control at 27-13. Campbell scored on a 9-yard run in the first and a 2-yard run with two minutes left.

J. Madison 56, Lock Haven 0 -- Justin Rascati tossed three TD passes, two to Dexter Manley, as the host Dukes opened defense of their Division 1-AA national title with a cakewalk.