Oct. 30, 2010

The first carry went 66 yards. Roy Helu around the left side. No Tiger touched him.

Surely this day wouldn’t be that easy. Or maybe it would. The Husker running back made it look that way on one brilliant Saturday as Nebraska ran a top-10 Missouri team out of the stadium 31-17. That was the day Helu set the school record for most yards in a game — 307 on 28 carries and three touchdowns. Every score covered at least 53 yards.

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But it was the final drive that was as impressive as any. Starting from their 6-yard line, the Huskers ran Helu, then ran him again, and again, eating up the final 9 minutes of the clock in 14 plays. By the end of the drive, Helu had the stadium chanting his name.

Of all the great Husker running backs, no one had ever had a better day. Coach Bo Pelini recognized what it meant immediately after the game.

“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.”

— Brian Christopherson