10.25.2010 / Big Win for the Huskers, but Now They Must Tame the Tigers. Blog Posting by Mike Babcock, Huskers Illustrated Magazine
With 21 seconds remaining, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez took the snap from center Mike Caputo and knelt down. Players from both teams came onto the field at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. After three-and-a-half hours of offense, the game was over. Nebraska 51, Oklahoma State 41.
In addition to the 41 points, the Huskers gave up 495 total yards. “We weren’t perfect,” said coach Bo Pelini.“But I thought we settled down and played a pretty good second half.” Oklahoma State, which went into the game ranked second nationally in scoring and total offense, was forced to punt on three of its five possessions in the second half after scoring on five-of-nine possessions in the first half, with the ninth ending as time ran out.
As impressive as Oklahoma State’s offensive numbers were, Nebraska’s were even better. The Huskers had 540 yards of offense, including 435 by Martinez, who became the first player in school history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game.
The redshirted freshman from Corona, California, was named the Football Bowl Subdivision National Offensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Foundation for his performance, just one week after being replaced by Zac Lee in the third quarter of a 20-13 loss against Texas.
One week made a big difference to Husker wide receiver Niles Paul, too. The senior from Omaha caught so much abuse following the Texas loss, in which he dropped a touchdown pass, that he felt compelled to deactivate his social-networking Facebook account. Against Oklahoma State, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and caught nine passes for 131 yards. Six of the nine receptions came during the third quarter as the Huskers controlled the ball and kept it away from Oklahoma State’s high-powered offense.
“In this game, you’ve got to pick each other up,” Pelini said. “I thought at times the offense needed picked up, the defense did it and vice versa. It’s a team game. I said going in, we had to do whatever it takes to win the football game . . . that’s what we did.”
This weekend’s game against Missouri is a BIG one for the Huskers. If the Huskers want to secure their seat at the Big 12 Championship they must tame the tigers this weekend. Missouri’s offense looked very impressive against the once ranked #1 Oklahoma.
For more great content on the Huskers, check out Huskers Illustrated Magazine, Huskers Illustrated or babcockandbabcock.com.
The Huskers must secure a win this weekend against Missouri. After watching both offenses, who do you think will come out with the WIN this weekend? Come on Husker fans, post your comments NOW!
Also, don’t forget to Share your First Husker Game Day Experience on blog.firstnational.com and enter for a chance to win 2 tickets to an upcoming Husker game this fall.
