Murray’s TD flurry propels Georgia to Capital One win

ORLANDO, Fla. - Aaron Murray wanted nothing more than to send out Georgia's senior class with a game to remember.

The junior quarterback provided a record-setting performance to make it a reality.

Murray threw five touchdown passes to set a Georgia bowl record, including two in the fourth quarter, as the sixth-ranked Bulldogs beat No. 23 Nebraska 45-31 in the Capital One Bowl on Tuesday.

Murray shook off two first-half interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown, and passed for 427 yards - also a Bulldogs bowl record - against the nation's No. 1 passing defense. He was the game's most valuable player while gaining his first bowl win at Georgia.

The Bulldogs (12-2) also reached 12 wins for the third time in school history.

"I don't know what it's like to head into an offseason with a win," Murray said. "It's a great feeling to get a win. It's great for the seniors, who have meant so much to this team. They've done a great job of leading this team the whole season.

"To get 12 wins ... that's something special."

Nebraska (10-4) lost its third consecutive bowl game, and finished the season with its second straight woeful defensive performance. The Cornhuskers lost the Big Ten championship game to Wisconsin, 70-31.

Against Georgia, Nebraska led 24-23 at halftime, but committed two of its three turnovers in the final 30 minutes.

Taylor Martinez threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions for Nebraska, and Rex Burkhead rushed 140 yards in his final college game.

Cornhuskers coach Bo Pelini said the efficiency of Murray and Georgia on third down (they converted 12 of 17) was too much to overcome.

"I thought the plan (defensively) was good," Pelini said. "Third down hurt us, obviously. When were in position, it was man on man down the field. We needed to make some of those plays and we didn't."

Nebraska dropped to 12-7 against Southeastern Conference opponents in bowl games.

Dogged by questions about his team's focus following its narrow loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game, Georgia coach Mark Richt said the game was also about closure for a team that finished 5 yards shy of a BCS title game berth.

"We wanted to win this game to prove to ourselves that we are one of the better teams in the country," Richt said. "I think our guys did a good job of sucking it up when they were tired."

Nebraska's offense finished with 443 total yards, but the Bulldogs defense was stingy when it needed to be. They sacked Martinez five times, with junior All-America linebacker Jarvis Jones notching two. Damian Swann made both of Georgia's interceptions.

Jones set a school season record with 14½ sacks. He will decide in the coming days whether to enter the NFL Draft.

Murray found Keith Marshall free near the sideline for a 24-yard touchdown pass that gave Georgia a 38-31 lead with 14:52 to play.

After a Nebraska punt, Murray then hit Chris Conley for a short pass over the middle. Conley outran the Cornhuskers defenders for an 87-yard score.

That play came after a 49-yard touchdown catch by Conley that helped Georgia tie the game in the third quarter.