Prince Amukamara did everything correctly on a third-down pass play right before the half except account for the slippery turf.

The NU secondary had practiced that play over and over again. Amukamara knew what was coming.

But the junior cornerback fell down as he tried to keep pace with Missouri receiver Jared Perry. The result was a 38-yard pass that gave the Tigers a first down and goal and eventually led to their lone touchdown of the 27-12 NU win Thursday.

“We repped that play so many times in practice,” Amukamara said. “We did it right. I was supposed to go over top, but I just slipped.”

Senior Matt O'Hanlon saved a touchdown on that play by coming over and making an open field tackle. Amukamara finished the game with a team-high nine tackles himself.

Open field was brief for Burkhead

Rex Burkhead was just trying to get a first down, and then he saw the opening.

It was third-and-1 from the MU 44-yard line midway through the second quarter and Nebraska packed the line of scrimmage with its biggest bodies. Missouri did the same.

Burkhead managed to burst past the first-down marker, and actually, for a moment, looked to have a clear path to the end zone. But he didn't make it 5 yards.

“I was so mad. I don't even know what happened,'' Burkhead said. “Someone got my legs. I saw a seam.”

Burkhead did get the first down on the play, but Nebraska punted after three consecutive incompletions.

Helu mum about shoulder

COLUMBIA, Mo. — A hot topic over the weekend surely will be the health of Roy Helu.

The junior I-back suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury at the end of his 41-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Helu appeared before the media after the game with his right shoulder wrapped and iced. When asked about his shoulder, he did not respond to the question.

Television replays clearly showed Helu favoring his right arm and shoulder after the 41-yard carry. He did not leave the game, however, and scored on a 5-yard run on the next play.

— Jon Nyatawa

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