Odds and ends: Nebraska vs. Kansas

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Strong start

Nebraska redshirt freshman Tim Marlowe returned the opening kickoff 40 yards. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, Zac Lee connected with Niles Paul on 35-yard play-action pass to set up the Huskers’ first touchdown on an opening drive since Sept. 12 against Arkansas State.

Energy boost

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Kansas’ moribund offense got an energy boost in the second quarter when it converted two fourth-and-1 plays. True freshman running back Toben Opurum rumbled right into the heart of NU’s defense on both plays, highlighting a 13-play, 80-yard march that consumed 5:49.

Strong finish

Leading 24-17 with just more than five minutes left, Nebraska needed first downs. It got more than that. Running back Roy Helu reeled off 64 yards on seven carries — including a 30-yarder on third-and-10 from the NU 37 — to highlight the a 10-play, 74-yard march to complete the scoring with 29 seconds left.

Brian Christopherson’s take

They said it: “The ref made a good call,” KU linebacker Justin Thornton said of his costly fourth-quarter facemask penalty. “It definitely was one of those plays that you wished you had back. That’s why it’s so disappointing, because I felt like that’s one play I could have made in the game. They scored a touchdown on the very next play and that hurts.”

Drop of the day: This goes to KU running back Jake Sharp, who dropped what likely would have been a 70-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Lucky for him, Kansas scored a touchdown later in the drive to go ahead.

Deserving a hand: Give one to the KU offensive line. The Jayhawks ran right at Nebraska at times and kept Ndamukong Suh from being a major factor. Suh had three tackles and two quarterback hurries, but no sacks.

Could be a teacher: That’s tight ends coach Ron Brown, who drew up a diagram of a play after the game to explain it to a couple of reporters.

Game in a Haiku

A yellow flag falls

Facemask says the referee

Husker fans rejoice

Reader questions from the Life In The Red blog

1. With the option kind of working, any chance we’ll see Cody Green, since he is an option-type quarterback?

I wouldn’t count on it anytime soon. Although Bo Pelini said the coaches hoped to get Green some action Saturday, “it just didn’t work out that way. It was kind of the way the flow of the game went. I think Zac (Lee) got into a rhythm.”

From the get-go, Lee looked pretty comfortable running the option. Remember on the first series how he sucked in a defensive end to take a hit just after he pitched to Roy Helu for a 14-yard gain?

Lee did finish with 53 yards rushing on nine carries. Take away his one sack from that equation and he got 61 on eight attempts.

“I do know this,” Pelini added. “We’re going to need both guys before it’s all over. But I thought Zac played really well.”

2. Why wasn’t Larry Asante pulled after his hit on Todd Reesing?

You’re talking about the 15-yard personal foul NU’s strong safety drew for arriving late after Reesing had picked up 14 yards on a draw the first play after the Huskers had taken a 10-0 lead.

The angle of that blow (Reesing had gone into a slide) added to the impact of the collision, but it didn’t look as if Asante had any intention of delivering a cheap shot. If that had been the case, the officials would have had no problem ejecting him.

3. Why was Reesing able to run/scramble so successfully?

The short and simple answer is because that’s what he does best, in large part because of the skills the Jayhawks have at receiver.

“We knew going in they’d have a tough time running the ball on us, but he was going to be their running game,” Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “They’re a well-coached club and he’s tough to tackle, and he’s so patient with that draw. No matter how you slice it, they’ve got good receivers and you’ve got to cover them downfield. (So) then, there’s six gaps for four rushers to fill.

“He’s probably more patient than any quarterback I’ve faced at finding that seam on the draw play. We knew it would be an issue, and kind of took care of it the second half. But then it slows down your pass rush. He’s a special player.”