By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
If this was the final meeting in the Nebraska-Missouri series, Roy Helu Jr. said farewell with a record-setting performance.
The Huskers’ senior running back had three long-distance touchdowns and racked up a school-record 307 yards rushing as No. 14 Nebraska overwhelmed No. 7 Missouri, 31-17, Saturday. The victory puts the Huskers (7-1, 3-1) in control of the Big 12 North Division race.
Helu had touchdown runs of 66, 73 and 55 yards – and was untouched by a Tigers defender on either of them. The first two scoring runs plus a 40-yard Taylor Martinez to Kyler Reed touchdown pass staked Nebraska to a 24-0 lead.
"I couldn’t explain how much I feel for my lineman and fullback, Tyler Legate," said Helu, who had 28 carries. "They deserve as much credit as I do, just down the line, even with our guys who rotate on the offensive line. I know how easily we could focus on the record and the individual but it’s a team sport. I just really appreciate my teammates."
Helu broke Calvin Jones’ record of 294 yards in 1991 against Kansass. He became the first player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to gain 300 or more yards rushing this season.
"I just said to the team, you break a school record for single-game rushing at this place, with all the tradition around here, it's a pretty big deal," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said of his senior running back. "He played a heck of a football game, but it's a team game. The guys up front blocked well. I thought it was well-designed, good game plan."
Martinez didn’t play in the second half because of a bone bruise on his right leg. Zac Lee took over as Nebraska held off the Tigers’ attempt to come back.
Trailing 31-14 late in the fourth quarter, Missouri drove from its 20 to a first-and-goal to the Nebraska 1. Instead of a touchdown to cut the Huskers’ lead to 10, the Tigers failed to get in the end zone and had to settle for a field goal for the game’s final points.
Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert was 18-of-42 for 199 yards while being sacked six times. His receivers had a difficult time getting open against Nebraska’s defenders. Gabbert also carried 22 times for 74 yards.
"We’ve got to get touchdowns in that situation," Gabbert said of failing to get a touchdown on the first-and-goal situation. "They did a great job standing up on the goal line, but we’ve got to punch that in."
Missouri (7-1, 3-1) has lost 17 straight road games against Top 25 opponents since 1997. Nebraska also ended a significant drought. The Huskers ended a 13-game losing streak to Top 10 teams.
With Nebraska headed to the Big Ten, the teams won’t meet again unless a nonconference game is scheduled. Nebraska and Missouri have played 89 straight years and 104 times overall since 1892.