Husker offense meets frustration against Mizzou

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Maybe more telling for Nebraska's offense than any statistic during a 41-6 loss to Missouri on Saturday night were the signs of frustration displayed by a unit accustomed to having its way with opposing defenses this season.

For example, after Sam Keller was sacked by Missouri's Van Alexander for a loss of seven yards on first-and-10 at Mizzou's 10-yard line during the second quarter, the Cornhusker senior quarterback picked himself up off the field and threw the ball to the ground.

After a delay of game penalty and two incomplete passes, the Huskers settled for a field goal to pull within 17-6 with 1 minute, 51 seconds left before halftime.

That was the last time the Huskers would score. They were held to a season-low 297 yards by a Missouri defense that had been giving up an average of 25 points per game through its first four contests.

"We felt like we were rolling pretty good and putting together some good drives," said Keller, who completed 25 of 43 passes for 223 yards with an interception. "And we'd have to settle for a field goal. Three points is all fine, we want to score points, but we really go down there to score touchdowns."

The Huskers had been averaging 35.8 points per game this season but could not get much going against the Tigers. It marked the first game in which Nebraska failed to score a touchdown since a 30-3 setback at Oklahoma in 2004.

Throughout the game, Missouri defenders applied heavy pressure on Keller, who was sacked twice and forced to throw away numerous passes. A few incompletes were the result of open receivers just dropping passes.

"A lot of things weren't going our way," said NU junior wide receiver Nate Swift, who had four receptions for 50 yards. "Holes weren't opening up for us and they were getting to our quarterback. A lot more things were going wrong than were going right."

The Huskers were especially inept in the running game, gaining just 74 yards on 25 carries against a Tiger squad ranked ninth in the Big 12 Conference in defending the run.

NU junior I-back Marlon Lucky gained 67 of the Huskers' rushing yards but averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. Lucky also had a team-high 56 receiving yards on seven catches. But other than a 17-yard dash in the third quarter, Lucky had a difficult time finding holes to run through.

With Nebraska trailing 34-6 late in the third quarter, Lucky picked up a three-yard gain on second-and-9 from Mizzou's 41-yard line. Lucky lingered on the ground for a couple seconds on his stomach before pounding the ball against the turf.

It was yet another sign of the Huskers' frustrations.

"Bad day for us," Lucky said. "Bad day for the Huskers."

BENGOULDSMITH@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM