POSTGAMESUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 , 2 0 0 9 • • G AM E 1 0 O F 1 2 • S E C T I O N C

31 17

MATT M I L LER / THE WORLD -HERA LD

Roy Helu trots into the end zone to score the winning touchdown, giving NU a five-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Helu was one of several stars in the offense’s breakout day, running for 156 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

IN SPORTS:Creighton’s upset bid falls short as Dayton’s Chris Wright scores 18 of his 25 points in the second half for a 90-80 win. Page 3C

MoreHuskers,

Pages13C-16C

Making the O goAfter slumbering forweeks, the NU offenserallies late to finish off

the Jayhawks.Page 13C

Adjusting on the flyThe Blackshirts weren’texposed, just challenged

in a way that forcesthem away from recentblueprint for success.

Page 14C

Paul printA full-page photo ofreceiver Niles Paul.

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TomShatel

DirkChatelain

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Slumbering NU offense awakens for 31 points and fourth-quarter rally

Reesing, KU flummox Blackshirts but can’t close against Suh and friends

MATT M I L LER / THE WORLD -HERA LD

NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson hugs linemanMarcel Jones after the Huskers used some powerfootball to help gain 410 total yards against Kansas.

Turning points

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Maximize the fewplaymakers you do have: Roy Helu andNiles Paul.

Scrap that shotgun spread and committo the power formation: I-back. Fullback.Wide receiver. Two tight ends.

This was the strategy Shawn Watsonshould’ve employed as soon as his offensecollapsed in October.

This was the ticket to a Big 12 Northtitle. This was beautiful.

And then, on first-and-10 from theKansas 46 early in the second quarter,something very fishy happened.

Zac Lee took the snap and dashed leftbehind the line of scrimmage. Anotheroption?

No. Lee pulled up, pivoted, set his feetand found Paul wiiiiide open behind the

Watson adjusts, the offense returns to formand a white-haired wizard waves his wand

LAWRENCE, Kan. — First, the firstgood news. We won’t be needing a Ouijaboard, or the bottom of the BCS rankings,to figure out the Big 12 North.

It’s Nebraska vs. Kansas State, Saturdaynight at the friendly confines of Memo-rial Stadium, with the winner getting theBig 12 North championship and a specialinvite to be Texas’ guest at the Big 12championship game.

For a while on Saturday, it didn’t looklike the North would be crowning achampion this year. With Kansas Statefalling hard to Missouri and Nebraskadoing a 10-10 waltz with Kansas, it lookedmore like Texas would just throw a partyon Dec. 5 and have a touch football gameafterwards.

But we’re going to have a North titlegame, though there won’t be so much awinner as there will be a survivor.

That’s the other good news for theHuskers, 31-17 winners over Kansas.

These guys are survivors.For weeks we’ve tried to write them

Get me rewrite:Lee,Watson thriveand NU survives

See Shatel: Page 15

Is theoffensefinally on track?

Average pointsscored in firstfive Big 12 gamesof the season: 14.8

PointsscoredagainstJayhawks:31

See Chatelain: Page 14