Nebraska's special teams provided the spark, and all the points the Cornhuskers needed to defeat Missouri 24-3 in a key Big XII North showdown.

Andrew Shanle blocked a second quarter Missouri punt attempt that was scooped up by linebacker Adam Ickes and returned 16-yards for a touchdown. Another botched punt attempt by the Tigers resulted in a fumble recovery by Shanle at the 15, setting up a Cory Ross touchdown run one play later.

While Missouri's kicking game was floundering, the Huskers' game was spot on. Kicker Sandro DeAngelis booted a 41 yard field goal in the first period to open the scoring, and punter Sam Koch turned in a career best 65-yard punt in the third quarter, and pinned the Tigers inside their own 20-yard line five times.

The game was critical to the Husker hopes for a Big XII North title. The win lifted NU to sole possession of first place with a 3-2 record. Missouri falls to 2-3 with the loss.

Nebraska's head coach Bill Callahan was pleased how his team rebounded from a disappointing loss the previous week.

"I'm proud of their energy and effort," he said. "It's not about the X's and O's, it's about the effort they displayed."

Missouri's offense was incapacitated by the Blackshirt defense as they were held out of the end zone for the entire game. Missouri's only points came on a second quarter field goal that followed a partially blocked Husker punt.

Tiger quarterback Brad Smith tried to carry the load himself as he set a Husker opponent record of 77 offensive attempts. He rushed 21 times for 25 yards and attempted 56 passes. Smith completed 24 attempts for 277 yards.

The game seemed as though it would settle into a defensive battle as the second quarter opened. Both teams recorded field goals with Nebraska's coming on the game's opening, nine-play drive, the longest of the half.

With just under 10 minutes left in the half, Missouri was forced to punt at their own 30. Shanle broke through the middle and stuffed Matt Hoenes' punt. The ball bounced into Ickes hands at the 16 and the junior from Page, Neb. Raced untouched into the end zone to give Nebraska a 10-3 lead.

"We've been working on (punt blocking) every week, and we always have an opportunity to make one. But we just hadn't done it this year." Shanle said.

The score stood until late in the third period. Facing another punting situation with less than two-minutes remaining, this time at their 26, Hoenes mishandled a snap and Shanle recovered at the 15. One play later Ross sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown to make the score 17-3.

Ross finished the scoring with 2:56 left in the game when he broke loose for an 86-yard touchdown jaunt. Ross finished the game with 199 yards rushing on 19 carries.

The win puts the Huskers atop the Big XII North division, with Iowa State on deck. The Huskers now control their own destiny in the race for the crown.

"It's all out there for us." Said Callahan. "This is an opportunity to capture a lead and do something that we've talked about in terms of our goals."