NU STAR

Roy Helu might not have had his best game of the season, but he banged out 95 hard-earned yards in recording the 29th 1,000-yard rushing season in Nebraska history. Helu’s 14-yard burst into the end zone four plays into the second half gave Nebraska some breathing room, extending a 10-3 halftime lead to 14 points. Helu heads to Colorado for the regular-season finale with 1,057 yards, and he also is the 25th Nebraska back to pile up more than 2,000 career rushing yards. He has 2,069.

HIGHLIGHT

Quarterback Zac Lee delivered his biggest pass of the night on the third play of the second half. Nebraska was facing a third-and-one at its 39-yard line when Lee dropped back to pass. He found Niles Paul streaking up the middle for a 47-yard gain to the Kansas State 14. On the next play, Helu burst through a crease on the right side for the touchdown that hiked Nebraska’s lead to 14 points.

BUSTED PLAY

Nebraska was 5 yards away from a touchdown late in the second quarter when Lee rolled out on a bootleg and found Kansas State defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald zeroing in on him. Instead of getting rid of the football, Lee took a 14-yard loss. On the next play, he underthrew Paul in the end zone, allowing Tysyn Hartman to come up with a drive-killing interception.

OUR TAKE

As usual, nothing special from a group that stresses functionality. After scoring on its first possession of the second half, Nebraska got just one first down — Kansas State gave the Huskers a second with a roughing-the-passer penalty — on its next four possessions. The Huskers did get two on their final possession to close the win. Bottom line, the offense did what it had to and, with the exception of Lee’s second-quarter interception, steered clear of major errors that could have sabotaged a division-clinching win.

— Steven Pivovar

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share