#21 Nebraska 27, #24 Missouri 12<?xml:namespace prefix="o"?>
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Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009
Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.
? Nebraska’s comeback from a 12-0 deficit entering the fourth quarter tied the largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history, and was the largest ever on the road. Nebraska trailed Colorado 19-7 entering the fourth quarter in Lincoln in 1966, before rallying for a 21-19 victory.
? Nebraska’s win improved the Huskers to 5-0 all-time in ESPN Thursday night contests, including a 3-0 record in conference games.
? Nebraska won its conference opener for the 33rd time in the past 35 seasons, including a 12-2 record in conference openers since the formation of the Big 12 Conference. The win ended a streak of two straight losses in Big 12 road openers.
? The win was Nebraska’s first in Columbia since a 36-3 win in 2001, ending a streak of three straight losses at Faurot Field.
? Nebraska won for the first time against a ranked opponent since a 28-27 come-from-behind win at No. 24 Texas A&M in 2006. The Huskers improved to 1-4 against ranked opponents under Bo Pelini.
? Nebraska senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh posted his third sack of the season in the first quarter of tonight’s game, a six-yard sack of Blaine Gabbert that also forced a fumble. Suh’s sack was his 15th career sack, moving him within a half-sack of the Nebraska career top 10.
? Suh registered his fourth career interception early in the fourth quarter, bettering his own career record for interceptions by a Nebraska defensive tackle. Suh’s INT led to a touchdown that put Nebraska ahead 13-12.
? Suh had one tackle for loss, giving him seven TFL on the year and 40 career tackles for loss. Suh moved into sole possession of seventh place on the Nebraska career TFL list with his performance tonight. Suh has had at least one tackle for loss in 15 of Nebraska’s past 16 games, including each of the past nine games.
? Suh had a third-quarter pass breakup for his team-leading seventh of the season. His seven pass breakups are a Nebraska position season record, bettering six PBU by Jeremy Slechta in 2000. Suh has 12 career pass breakups, breaking the position record of 11 by Steve Warren from 1996 to 1999.
? Missouri’s second-quarter safety was the first against Nebraska since Virginia Tech blocked a punt for a safety on Sept. 27, 2008 in Lincoln.
? Nebraska held Missouri scoreless in the first quarter of tonight’s game, and has allowed just seven first-quarter points through five games.
? The Nebraska defense limited Missouri to 225 total yards in tonight’s game, including just 91 yards on the ground. Nebraska has limited six of its past eight opponents to 102 or fewer yards on the ground, including the past three opponents.
? Nebraska allowed 12 points in tonight’s game and has held all five opponents to less than 20 points. This marks the first time Nebraska has held five straight opponents to 20 or fewer points since NU allowed less than 20 for the first five games of the 2003 season.
? Nebraska did not allow a point following either of its turnovers in tonight’s game and has not allowed an opponent point following any of its six offensive turnovers. Nebraska has converted 10 takeaways into 42 points.
? Nebraska junior receiver Niles Paul had six receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Paul’s receptions and receiving yardage totals were both career highs, bettering six catches for 69 yards against Arkansas State on Sept. 12. Paul’s two touchdowns tied a career high. He had two touchdowns against Arkansas State, one by rush and one by reception.
? Roy Helu Jr. ripped off a 41-yard run late in the fourth quarter before finishing with 88 yards on 18 carries . It was the eighth run of 20-plus points for Helu this season and he now has 16 rushes of at least 20 yards in his past 10 games.
? Nebraska did not score in the first half, marking the first time Nebraska did not score in the first half since trailing Oklahoma State 38-0 at the half of Oct. 13, 2007, a span of 24 games. That was also the last time Nebraska was blanked for three quarters, prior to tonight’s 12-0 deficit entering the fourth quarter.
? Nebraska’s five fumbles were its most since fumbling five times at Iowa State last year. The Huskers lost two fumbles tonight.
? Tonight’s Nebraska game captains were nose tackle Ndamukong Suh, offensive guard Keith Williams, tight end Mike McNeill and safety Austin Cassidy.