LINCOLN, Nebraska (Ticker) -- Josh Bullocks had a special day on special teams.
Bullock blocked a punt to set up a touchdown and returned a blocked punt 36 yards for another score as No. 11 Nebraska cruised to a 28-0 victory over Big 12 Conference rival Iowa State.
The Cyclones (2-6, 0-4 Big 12 North) lost their sixth straight game and were shut out for the first time since a 41-0 blanking at Kansas in 1991, a span of 138 games, the 11th-longest streak in the country.
"Nebraska is much better on defense than they were last season," Cyclones coach Dan McCarney said. "You really see a dramatic improvement. They are tough, fundamentally sound, playing with confidence and going after the ball in an attacking style. It's a defense that they should be really proud of."
Nebraska (7-1, 3-1), which forced a school record-tying eight turnovers in a rout of Texas A&M last week, opened up a 21-0 advantage when linebacker Demorrio Williams blocked a punt by Iowa State's Tony Yelk. free safety Bullocks picked up the ball and ran 26 yards into the end zone with 51 seconds left in the first quarter.
"He had another excellent game," Solich said of Bullocks. "I think he did it both in terms in what he did to control the game from his free safety spot in the throwing game, but also in the running game, he did some very good things. He is having a great season and we need to have somebody there that is operating at the level that he is in the defense."
Defensive end Benard Thomas recovered a fumble by Cyclones quarterback Austin Flynn at the Iowa State 21 and Josh Davis scored on a one-yard plunge three plays later to cap the scoring with 8:46 left in the second quarter.
Nebraska, which entered the contest leading the nation in turnover differential (plus-2.0), forced three turnovers and committed two.
The Cornhuskers have forced 32 turnovers this season.
Quarterback Jammal Lord and redshirt freshman wide receiver Isaiah Fluellen scored on early TD runs of two and 39 yards, respectively, for Nebraska. Lord's score was set up by a block by Bullocks, while Fluellen's came on a reverse.
"Basically, the coaches called a reverse and saw some weaknesses in the defense and I took it in," Fluellen said. "My teammates made some excellent blocks, I just followed them in."
"Isaiah's speed is showing since he has started playing on a regular basis for us," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "It is showing in the running game and it is showing in the passing game."
Nebraska lost at Iowa State last year but has won 10 of 11 and 24 of the last 26 in the series.
The Cornhuskers passed for only 35 yards but rushed 54 times for 282 yards and limited the Cyclones to 70 yards on the ground.
Lord completed 2-of-3 passes for 19 yards, while backup Joe Dailey went 2-of-4 for 16 yards and was intercepted once.
"It was a quick start by us," Solich said. "It was not the finish we were looking for, but we did get an opportunity to play a number of guys that are second on the depth chart. We got a lot of time for Joe Dailey at quarterback and a number of other players."
Flynn went 13-of-29 for 109 yards and an interception and backup Waye Terry was 6-of-11 for 57 yards and a pick.
"Your goal is to put a lot of points on the board, and to have a goose-egg on the board at the end of the game really hurts you," Flynn said.
"I feel sorry for our kids because they are really playing hard out there," McCarney said. "You saw the character of our football team today. We never game up even though we were down 28-0 at halftime. Nebraska's a great football team and the Blackshirts are outstanding."
