LINCOLN — Zac Lee and Roy Helu came, conquered and left things in good shape Saturday night after three quarters.

With all due respect to Nebraska's starting quarterback and I-back, though, there was good reason that most of 85,719 stayed glued to their seats despite the Huskers leading 42-3.

Freshman quarterback Cody Green was going to play the fourth quarter. And freshman I-back Rex Burkhead still had five carries to come.

“Anything can happen in the game of football,'' NU offensive tackle Mike Smith said. “We could need Cody, we could need Rex any day. We could need anybody.

“They're good players. They're going to be great players for Nebraska.''

As two veterans efficiently handled their business in the 49-3 win over Florida Atlantic, their top backups made much-anticipated debuts at Memorial Stadium. Their contributions highlighted a 490-yard effort by Nebraska as it won its season-opening game for the 24th straight year.

Lee? NU coach Bo Pelini said he played the way he has practiced.

Helu? He ran wild after a slow start and totaled 152 yards and three touchdowns.

But the work done by two newcomers had to be appreciated in a sport that can rob you at anytime of a starter and not ask questions. Something all too real for Oklahoma on Saturday as it lost Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford to a shoulder injury.

“You've got to have those backup guys,'' NU receiver Curenski Gilleylen said. “You need somebody to lean on whenever it's necessary. I'm really happy that we have some guys that can back up Roy and all those other guys who have more experience.''

Green completed 2 of 3 passes for 18 yards. But he made his best first impression with his legs, running 49 yards up the right sideline on a zone-read keeper and finishing his second series with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Burkhead carried nine times for 39 yards and a touchdown. Already expected to play, he was thrust into a more prominent role with the dismissal of I-back Quentin Castille two weeks ago.

Green said it felt like high school all over again. In fact, he said he was having flashbacks as he strolled in front of the Florida Atlantic bench, putting another dagger in the Owls after Lee and Helu had delivered so many before.

“What high school kids dream of when they get to college,'' Green said, smiling. “The atmosphere of 85,000 calling your name, it's something that sends shivers down your spine. To get to go out there and compete like I did today, I'd give the world to do it again.''

Surely the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Dayton, Texas, will get another chance before long.

Asked how Green looked, Pelini said: “It was pretty obvious. I thought he played well.''

And both Pelini and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson seemed pleased that they were able to get Green the work.

“He's a confident young man, very talented,'' Pelini said. “We wanted to take that opportunity to get him out there, because eventually you're going to need a guy. Very seldom you make it through a season with one quarterback. That doesn't happen very often. We're going to need it at some point.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com