As part of our season in review, we're recapping the best offensive, defensive and special teams plays of the year. First up: Best running plays.

NU spread around its wealth in 2008, using three running backs in just about every formation and play the Huskers had in the playbook. But although Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu, Jr and Quentin Castille all had their moments this year, it was Helu who emerged with the most impressive runs and three 100-yard games down the stretch of the season.


Here are the best running plays:


Roy Helu, Jr, 52-yard touchdown run, Kansas. The nail in the Jayhawk coffin, Helu took the ball from quarterback Joe Ganz on a zone read play hit a wide open gash in KU’s defensive line and took it to the house. The run gave NU an insurmountable 31-21 lead in a 45-35 win.



Marlon Lucky, 58-yarder, vs. New Mexico State. One of the last classic power stretch plays that the Huskers ran all year. Lucky took the deep handoff, hit an outside hole to the right, then cut all the way back across the field over the next 30 yards before being driven out of bounds. Vintage Lucky, and arguably the best run of his career.



Quentin Castille, 37-yard touchdown run, vs. Kansas State. Castille had some ups and downs in 2008, but his highlight had to be this tough, physical house call on fourth down. Castille broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage, busted loose and galloped to the end zone.



Helu, 24-yard touchdown run, vs. Kansas State. A run right out of the Rozier portfolio, as Helu took the handoff, jutted hard to the right almost immediately to avoid a blitzing Wildcat, reached the sideline and took off for the end zone before anybody knew what happened. A rare combo of instinct and agility.



Helu, 57-yarder, vs. Oklahoma. It was garbage time, the game was over, as NU trailed the Sooners 62-21. But Helu wasn’t done. He broke a number of tackles on the play, including three right at the line of scrimmage, to help set up Nebraska’s final touchdown.



Best opponent run: Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin looked at Nebraska’s defense on a fourth-and-one, took a hard step to his left, and sprinted around the end in what amounted to a 47-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown. NU fans who were in Memorial Stadium for the Huskers’ 32-20 win over Baylor probably understood they were watching the next coming of Vince Young. At least they should have.



See also: The 11 Best Defensive Plays

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