LAWRENCE, Kan. — First play of the game, Niles Paul noticed the cornerback was playing up, so he took off up the sideline. Zac Lee saw Paul’s read, floated the ball just over the defender’s shoulder, and right into his receiver’s hands for a 35-yard gain.
That conservative Nebraska offense, the one that drew so much criticism last week against Oklahoma? Out the window.
The Big 12 North title within their grasp, the Cornhuskers aren’t holding back any longer.
Roy Helu Jr. ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns, and Nebraska dusted off its big-play offense to beat Kansas 31-17 Saturday for a share of the Big 12 North lead.
“The thing we wanted to say is: We’ve got our mojo back,” Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.
Chastised for playing close to the vest in last week’s 10-3 win over Oklahoma, the Cornhuskers hit Kansas with a barrage of big plays to win in Lawrence for the first time since 2001.
Paul took advantage of single coverage, setting the tone with his opening catch and adding three more to finish with 154 yards.
He had 244 total yards, including a crucial 44-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter to set up the go-ahead score shortly after Kansas had taken the lead.
Helu recovered a fumble in the end zone in the first quarter and scored on runs of 20 and 14 yards in the fourth. Lee was an efficient 13-for-21 for 196 yards in his first start in three games and Alex Henery kicked three field goals to give Nebraska its first four-game conference road winning streak since 1999-2000.
Next up? Kansas State in Lincoln next week, the Big 12 North title on the line.
“We’re going to have to come out with a higher intensity and be ready to fight,” Cornhuskers linebacker Phillip Dillard said.
The Jayhawks were hurt by a miserable first quarter, missed assignments on defense and a combination of dropped passes and poorly thrown balls by Todd Reesing.
Once a Heisman candidate, Reesing threw for 236 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score in his final home game. He finished 19 for 41. Fellow senior Kerry Meier added 10 catches for 127 yards for Kansas, which has lost five straight for the first time in seven years.
