LINCOLN — When Nebraska's “Magic Man” had to leave the Memorial Stadium stage Saturday, “Steady Eddie” took over as leading man and kept the crowd roaring.
“Steady Eddie” is the nickname Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson gave quarterback Zac Lee after he stepped in for injured starter Taylor Martinez in the second half of Nebraska's 31-17 victory over Missouri.
“He's Mr. Steady Eddie. He puts that calmness in our program,” Watson said. “He doesn't fade out. The lights aren't bright in his eyes.”
Martinez, whose nickname is T-Magic, suffered a bone bruise in his lower right leg late in the second quarter when he was tackled by Kenji Jackson following a 5-yard run around left end.
Lee said he didn't know he would be taking over in the second half until the Huskers were back out on the field.
“At halftime they just said, ‘Be ready,'” Lee said. “When we came out of the tunnel they said, ‘You're going to go.' I said OK.”
Watson said there was no change in the game plan with Lee in instead of Martinez. Watson said the players and coaches all have confidence in Lee's ability to run the offense.
“They see it every day in practice,” Watson said. “He's become a better runner because he's had to. We called the same game.”
Lee didn't post any gaudy statistics, but big numbers weren't necessary with the Huskers up 24-7. Watson and Lee used the phrase “manage the game” when talking about what was needed for a successful second half.
“I just got in there and managed the offense,” Lee said. “I read the reads in the run game and the passing game. I just needed to do all the things I've done before.”
Lee gained 11 yards on two carries and completed 1 of 3 passes for 11 yards.
Missouri trimmed Nebraska's lead to 24-14 midway through the third period. But the Huskers got those points back just two plays later when Roy Helu scored the third touchdown of his record-setting, 307-yard rushing day, a 53-yard blast through the heart of the defense.
Lee said credit for the success of that play goes to the line and Helu for cutting back to his left once he spotted the hole after the Huskers caught the Tigers in another blitz.
“Our line does a great job of blocking pressure,” Lee said. “Once Roy broke through that first level of pressure, there was no one there.”
The Tigers added a field goal late in the third quarter but didn't have a chance to play catch-up. That's because most of the fourth quarter was chewed up by the Lee-directed offense running out the final 8:40 with a 14-play, 54-yard drive.
Lee handed off to Helu 10 times on that drive, but Lee also completed a key third-down pass. With NU facing third-and-2 at its 31-yard line, Lee hit tight end Kyler Reed for an 11-yard gain.
No points came from that possession, but none was needed. The Tigers also hurt themselves by taking their three timeouts in the third period.
“That just shows if we want to, we can force our will on people,” Lee said. “That's a nice luxury to have.”
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• Video: Highlights from the NU-Missouri game:
• Video: Bo Pelini after the NU-Missouri game:
• Video: Roy Helu after the NU-Missouri game:
• Video: Jared Crick after the NU-Missouri game:
• Video: Keith Williams after the NU-Missouri game:
• Video: Prince Amukamara after the NU-Missouri game:
• Video: Missouri-Nebraska postgame analysis:
• Video: Sights and sounds from the Missouri-Nebraska game:
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