Published Sunday, October 12, 2003
Game Notes
Slow starting Huskers
Nebraska trailed 14-10 at halftime, marking the third time this season the Huskers were behind at the intermission. NU trailed Oklahoma State 7-3 at halftime in the season opener and trailed Penn State 10-9 at the break.
The Huskers came back to win both the OSU (17-7) and Penn State games (18-10), but collapsed in the fourth quarter against Missouri. Nebraska entered Saturday's game with an 80-7 second-half scoring edge against its opponents. NU looked to continue the trend with a shutout in the third period, but the Tigers exploded for 24 points in the final quarter.
Climbing the charts
Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord recorded 257 yards of total offense, including 111 rushing yards and a season-high 146 yards passing.
Lord passed the 2,000-yard mark in career rushing yards on an 8-yard gain with 9:48 left in the first half. He now has 2,076 career rushing yards to rank 22nd all-time at Nebraska.
The senior quarterback also eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark in total offense for his career. Lord now has 4,274 total yards, passing Scott Frost to rank eighth all-time at NU.
Horne steps up
Nebraska backup I-back David Horne had his best effort of the season, rushing 26 times for 119 yards. The sophomore recorded the fourth 100-yard game of his career.
Horne's previous season-best rushing total was 61 yards against Penn State. Despite a lost fumble, Horne has performed especially well in games televised by TBS as Horne rushed for a career-best 128 yards last season in a victory at Texas A&M.;
Charting the series
Nebraska entered Saturday night's game with a 61-32-3 lead in the all-time series over Missouri. The Huskers, who beat the Tigers 24-13 last year at Lincoln, were 26-16-2 in games played at Columbia.
NU had won 24 straight games in the series, dating back to a 35-31 loss to Missouri in 1978 at Lincoln. The Tigers had last defeated the Huskers at Columbia in 1973 -- former Nebraska coaching great Tom Osborne's first season as head coach.
The Huskers' winning streak against Missouri was their third longest against any school. Nebraska owns a 34-game winning streak over Kansas and had defeated Kansas State 29 consecutive times prior to the 1998 meeting in Manhattan.
At night, on TV
Nebraska has traditionally fared well in night games, compiling a 54-18-3 record in games played under the lights. The Huskers are 18-2 in night games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and 6-2 at night under head coach Frank Solich.
Saturday night's appearance on TBS marked the fourth time in six games this season that Nebraska's games have been televised nationally. The Huskers have been on TV in five of six games this season with only the Troy State game not being televised.
NU was making its third appearance on TBS. Previously, the Huskers beat Illinois 59-14 in 1986 and won 38-31 at Texas A&M; last season on the network.
Injury news
Nebraska starting safety Philip Bland (ankle) didn't make the trip to Columbia. Huskers starting defensive lineman Ryon Bingham (knee) also didn't play.
Huskers guard Jake Andersen, who sat out last week's Troy State game with a toe injury, returned to the lineup. NU center Josh Sewell, who limped out of the Troy State game with a knee injury, also played against Missouri.
Nebraska fullback Judd Davies took a blow to his shin and didn't return after the first period.
How bad of a night was it for the Huskers? Nebraska offensive coordinator Barney Cotton tore a calf muscle on the sideline.
Penalties hurt NU
Nebraska was flagged for three false start penalties in the first 15:10 of the game. The Huskers finished with seven false start penalties and were penalized nine times for 42 yards overall.
Missouri was flagged with just three penalties, totaling 23 yards.
Receivers continue streaks
Nebraska tight end Matt Herian had two receptions for 31 yards. He now has had at least one catch in nine consecutive games.
NU wide receiver Ross Pilkington had two receptions for 35 yards. He has now caught at least one ball in seven straight games.
Huskers' wide receiver Mark LeFlore had a career-high six receptions for a career-high 76 yards. That included a 55-yard TD reception from Lord.
Husker huddle
With his 26-yard kickoff return to open the game, Nebraska's Josh Davis became the Big 12 Conference's all-time leader in kickoff return yardage. The return gave Davis 1,816 career yards, passing Colorado's Ben Kelly, who had 1,798. He later extended his record and now has 1,887 career kickoff return yards.
Nebraska safety Josh Bullocks recorded his sixth interception of the season with 9:49 left in the first quarter, picking off Missouri's Brad Smith and returning it 16 yards to the Nebraska 42-yard line. It was the first interception thrown by Smith this season. Bullocks is now two off breaking the NU single-season mark for interceptions.
Backup fullback Steve Kriewald recorded a season-long 15-yard run. The North Loup-Scotia graduate was pressed into action after starting fullback Judd Davies injured his shine midway through the first quarter.
Grand Island Senior High graduate Dusty Stamer is no longer a member of the Nebraska football team.
--Terry Douglass
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