NU STAR

Niles Paul showed up to play against the Red Wolves. The junior from Omaha enjoyed his big performance a week later than anticipated, catching a career-high six passes for 69 yards and his first TD reception. Paul also ran for a 30-yard touchdown. And another apparent TD catch of 70 yards was nullified by a holding penalty.

HIGHLIGHT

Plenty of pass plays from which to choose for Zac Lee, who was on the mark all day and made several throws that were nearly impossible to defend. His 43-yard strike to Curenski Gilleylen on the opening drive was a thing of beauty. Lee placed the long pass perfectly into the hands of Gilleylen, who did a nice job of finding the ball and staying in bounds. NU scored on the next play, a 3-yard Lee pass to Tyler Legate.

BUSTED PLAY

It won’t always be this way, but even the bad plays went right for Lee and the NU receivers. The junior QB completed a 20-yard throw to Paul on the Huskers’ opening drive of the third quarter. The ball was batted by a jumping defender before Paul came back to make the grab. Mike McNeill scored on the next play, a 32-yard strike from Lee.

OUR TAKE

Nebraska never got untracked on the ground, but it didn’t need the running game against the Red Wolves. Lee benefited from some good fortune. Primarily, though, he just made plays — with his arm, feet and head. The first-year starter looks equipped to do it all in this offense; he even operated a few effective option plays. Soon, though, the QB will encounter an opportunistic foe that makes him pay for any sloppiness.

— Mitch Sherman

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