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COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Niles Paul was yanked from not one job but two Thursday night, left to stand in the driving rain and watch Nebraska stumble around offensively against Missouri.

When might the junior go back in at receiver?

"There were no guarantees I was going to go back in at all," Paul said.

Given that chance, however, quarterback Zac Lee wasn't surprised that Paul came back to make two of the biggest plays in the Huskers' 27-12 win at Faurot Field.

"Really, I always have faith in all our wideouts," Lee said. "But Niles in particular, just because I know what type of player he is and I know what type of competitor he is."

Lee threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Paul with 13:56 left in the game to pull Nebraska within 12-7. After an Ndamukong Suh interception, Lee two plays later went right back to Paul for a 13-yard scoring pass with 12:59 left in which Paul went higher than two Tigers in the end zone.

"I saw the ball in the air, and I just remembered Coach Gilmore telling me to go get the ball," Paul said. "First man in the air wins the war. I just went up and got it."

That had to be one of the nicer things assistant coach Ted Gilmore said to Paul and the other starting receivers, whom Gilmore benched coming out of halftime in favor of backups such as Chris Brooks, Antonio Bell, Brandon Kinnie and Khiry Cooper.

Paul already had been removed from the punt return team, the result of fumbling a second-quarter kick that teammate Eric Martin recovered at the NU 26.

Gilmore said Husker receivers have known since camp that he would pull the trigger if unhappy with their performance. It was definitely an in-game message for Paul, Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen -- just one Gilmore wished Paul had received earlier.

"I told him, "I'm too old for this. I have too many gray hairs. You can't wait three quarters. You've got to do it in the first quarter,"' Gilmore said. "And he agreed."

Paul finished with a team-high six receptions for 102 yards. Also bouncing back was Lee, who was 9 of 27 for 79 yards going into the fourth quarter as offensive coordinator Shawn Watson kept looking for answers.

"I think all of our confidence was wavering," Paul said. "We kind of let ourselves down. We came out the second half and Coach Gilmore and Coach Watson challenged us to a man, and we showed everybody how real men play ball."

Paul and Holt stood together during part of the time they were benched. They understood they weren't making plays. They waited to get the chance to show they could do it.

"I guess it just humbles you, but it makes you cherish the plays you do get more," Holt said. "I just told him (Paul), "Don't take it personal, we've got to make some big plays.' And we did."

The 56-yard throw from Lee to Paul was a post pattern that gave the Huskers a rare chance to go down the field. Paul coasted home for the first points and a huge shift in momentum.

"We caught them in a good coverage and the safety came up on a middle hook route, and we got a post over the top," Lee said. "It worked out pretty well."

Paul said it was then no surprise as the defense quickly put the ball back in the hands of the offense. Paul was back on the field for the go-ahead score.

"Our defense was playing a great game, the whole game," Paul said.

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust(at)owh.com

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