Postgame Notes from Nebraska vs Florida Atlantic

courtesy of Huskers.com:

• Tonight’s crowd of 85,719 was the third-largest in Memorial Stadium history and the eighth-largest crowd ever for a Nebraska game.

• Nebraska allowed just three points in tonight’s game, marking the fewest points allowed by Nebraska since a 21-3 victory at Kansas State on Oct. 14, 2006. It was also the fewest points NU has allowed in a season opener since a 31-0 shutout over West Virginia in 1994.

• Tonight’s victory margin of 46 points was Nebraska’s largest in any game since a 56-0 shutout of Troy in 2006. It was also Nebraska’s largest in a season opener since a 76-14 win over North Texas in 1993.

• The Nebraska defense forced three turnovers in tonight’s game, with those coming on three consecutive FAU possessions in the third quarter. Nebraska forced only 17 turnovers last season and had only one game (Colorado-4) with more than two takeaways.

• The victory in tonight’s game marked Nebraska’s 24th straight win in a season opener–a nation-leading streak. Nebraska has won each of the 24 games in the streak by 10 points or more. Nebraska scored more than 40 points for the fourth straight season opener.

• Nebraska picked up its fifth straight victory overall, the Huskers’ longest streak since winning its final three games of 2005 and the first two games of 2006. Nebraska has won seven of its past eight games dating back to last season.

• Tonight’s Nebraska game captains were senior center Jacob Hickman, senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, senior safety Matt O’Hanlon and junior place-kicker Alex Henery.

First-time starters in tonight’s game:

Offense – OG Derek Meyer, TE Kyler Reed, QB Zac Lee, OG Ricky Henry

Defense – DT Jared Crick, LB Sean Fisher, LB Will Compton.

True freshmen appearing in tonight’s game:

LB Eric Martin, LS P.J. Mangieri, IB Rex Burkhead, QB Cody Green

• Junior I-back Roy Helu Jr. rushed 16 times for 152 yards and a career-high three touchdowns (1-yarder in second quarter, 7-yarder in third quarter, 44-yarder in third quarter). Helu has gained 100 yards or more in four of the last six games dating back to last season.

• Helu rushed three times for 49 yards on Nebraska’s touchdown drive to open the second half and had 95 yards on his first five carries of the second half.

• In tonight’s game alone, Helu improved nine spots to 45th on the Nebraska career rushing list. He entered the game with 1,012 yards and now has 1,164 yards.

• Over the past five regular-season games, Helu has rushed for 662 yards on 86 carries, an average of 7.7 yards per carry.

• Junior quarterback Zac Lee threw for 213 yards in his first career start. Lee completed 15-of-22 passes, including touchdowns to Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen.
  

• Sophomore receiver Curenski Gilleylen caught his first career touchdown pass on a 51-yard second quarter strike from Lee. Gilleylen entered the game with two career catches for 11 yards. Gilleylen finished the game with four receptions for 92 yards.

• Junior tight end Mike McNeill caught four passes for 51 yards in the game. McNeill has caught at least three passes in five straight games and eight of nine games dating back to last season. McNeill caught a position record 32 passes as a sophomore in 2008.

• Senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh picked up where he left off last season. Suh registered six tackles and a pass breakup in the game and set the tone early with three first-quarter tackles.

• Sophomore defensive tackle Jared Crick blocked an Owl field goal attempt in the first quarter. Crick’s blocked kick was the first of his career. Nebraska blocked six kicks last season as a team.