Nebraska vs. Kansas State?Nov. 21, 2009
Nebraska 17, Kansas State 3
Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Neb.
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? With tonight’s victory, Nebraska qualified for the Big 12 Championship Game for the fifth time since the league began in 1996 and the first time since 2006 (also 1996, 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2009).
? Nebraska picked up its fifth straight victory over Kansas State and won for the 20th time in the past 21 meetings in Lincoln. Nebraska is now 78-15-1 all-time against Kansas State.
? Nebraska’s win was its sixth straight victory in the month of November and improved the Huskers to 6-1 in November under Head Coach Bo Pelini. NU is 8-1 in games played on or after Nov. 1 under the second-year head coach (including two bowl victories).
? Nebraska won its fourth straight Big 12 game with tonight’s victory. The four-game winning streak matches NU’s four-game streak spanning the last three games of 2008 and this year’s win at Missouri. However, this marks the first time Nebraska has won four straight conference games in the same season since 2001 (won first seven games).
? In seven home games this season, Nebraska limited the opposition to a total of 58 points. The 8.3 points per game by Nebraska opponents at Memorial Stadium marked just the fourth time since 1980 that NU has held the opposition to less than 10 points per game in Lincoln. Overall, the Huskers’ total ranks as the second-lowest at NU since 1980 (8.2 in 1996).
? Nebraska held six of seven opponents in Lincoln to nine points or fewer. Nebraska did not allow a touchdown in the final 10 quarters at home this season, and has not allowed a point in the second half at home since a fourth-quarter touchdown by Texas Tech.
? In Nebraska’s final three home games in 2009, the combined point total for both teams was 49.
? Nebraska has limited 10 of 11 opponents to 17 or fewer points this season, including each of the past five opponents.
? Nebraska junior I-back Roy Helu Jr. rushed 26 times for 95 yards and a 14-yard touchdown in tonight’s game. With his 95 yards, Helu recorded the 29th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history. He now has 1,057 rushing yards this season. Helu also became the 25th Husker with more than 2,000 career rushing yards, as he pushed his career total to 2,069.
? Junior tight end Mike McNeill caught three passes for 26 yards in tonight’s game. He also grabbed his fourth touchdown of the season and the 10th of his Nebraska career. McNeill pushed his career receptions total to 57, moving him within four receptions of the top 20 on the NU career list. Only three NU tight ends have more career receptions than McNeill.
? Nebraska junior receiver Niles Paul had four receptions for 82 yards in tonight’s game, including a 47-yard catch in the third quarter to set up an NU touchdown. The 47-yard catch was Paul’s eighth of at least 35 yards in 2009. Paul is averaging 19.7 yards per catch, the third-best average yards per catch for a Husker with at least 20 receptions in a season.
? Senior safety Larry Asante had a season-high 10 tackles in tonight’s game, pushing his career total to 209. His total ties Tyrone Byrd (209) for third place all-time among Nebraska defensive backs, as the only two defensive backs in school history with more career tackles are Mike Brown (287) and Daniel Bullocks (226).
? Asante also intercepted a pass in the second quarter for his third career interception and second of 2009. Asante also forced a fumble in the third quarter, ending a KSU scoring threat the Nebraska 1-yard line.
? Nebraska senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh finished tonight’s game with nine total tackles, including 1.5 sacks in the fourth quarter. Suh’s 1.5 sacks gave him 6.5 on the season and 18.5 in his career. He also pushed his career TFL total to 48, three out of second place. Suh added his ninth and 10th pass breakups of the season ? and now has 15 in his career - and also had his 20th QB hurry of the season.
? Junior place-kicker Alex Henery connected on one field goal in tonight’s game, a 34-yarder in the first quarter. Henery improved to 16-of-19 on field goals this season and 42-of-48 in his career. His 16 field goals this season are three shy of the school record of 19 by Jordan Congdon in 2005. Henery made 18 field goals last season to tie for second on the list. Henery’s 42 career field goals are third all-time, one behind Josh Brown for second place.
? Henery ?s five points tonight pushed his career total to 258 and moved him into seventh on the career scoring list. He is just 12 points from the top five.
? Henery also punted six times for a 45.5-yard average in tonight’s game, and downed two punts inside the KSU 20, including a second-quarter punt at the KSU 1 and a fourth-quarter boot to the Wildcat 3. Henery entered the game leading the Big 12 with 20 punts downed inside the 20.
? Nebraska scored a field goal on its opening drive in tonight’s game, covering 56 yards in 16 plays and 7:37. The 16 plays and 7:37 were both season long drives for Nebraska. The score marked the third time in four games NU has scored on its first offensive possession (two FG, one TD)
? Nebraska was a +1 in turnover margin in tonight’s game, marking the fourth straight game NU has had a positive turnover margin. In eight wins, Nebraska is a +14, while it is a minus-12 in its three losses.
? Nebraska converted seven of 16 third-down conversions, including 6-of-10 in the first half.
? Kansas State completed 12-of-32 passes in tonight’s game. Tonight’s game marked the eighth time this season NU has held an opponent below 50 percent passing. NU entered tonight’s game ranked fifth in the country and first in the Big 12 in defensive completion percentage.
? Nebraska’s 13-man senior class served as captains for tonight’s game. Nebraska natives Wes Cammack, Andy Christensen, Colton Koehler and Derek Meyer represented the Huskers for the coin flip.