This is a case in which Nebraska football coaches wish the numbers lied.

In seven Big 12 Conference games this season, the Huskers have scored a not-so-grand total of seven points in the third quarter — on I-back Marlon Lucky’s 40-yard touchdown run Oct. 14 at Kansas State.

Nebraska has scored a total of 42 third-quarter points in 11 games while averaging 107 points apiece in quarters one, two and four.

Despite Nebraska’s third-quarter struggles on offense, the Huskers have produced a record of 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the conference. They’ve clinched the Big 12 North Division crown with one regular-season game remaining, Nov. 24 against Colorado in Lincoln.

Improving third-quarter production has become a key issue, NU offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said Tuesday.

“We have to explode out of the third quarter and execute better,” he said.

Nebraska no doubt wishes it could duplicate its first-quarter production in the third quarter. In the seven league games, the Huskers are averaging 124.7 yards of total offense in the first quarter compared with 80.2 in the third quarter.

In three games in which Nebraska lost control of significant first-half leads — against Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M — the Huskers averaged 153.6 yards in the first quarter and only 64.3 in the third. Nevertheless, the Huskers came away with victories against the Jayhawks (39-32 in overtime) and A&M (28-27 last weekend).

“It’s not really one thing,” said Norvell, who coaches from the press box while head coach Bill Callahan calls plays from the sideline. “We haven’t run the ball as effectively (in the third quarter). We haven’t converted on third downs. It’s just a lot of little fundamental things we’re not executing. We have to play with more energy when we come out in the third quarter and execute much better.“

Nebraska actually has rushed the ball effectively in the third quarters of conference games, with 66 carries for 300 yards, 4.5 yards per attempt — matching the Huskers’ per-carry average for the season. However, quarterback Zac Taylor has completed 48.8 percent of his passes in the third quarter of league games, compared with 61.7 percent for the season.

“People made a big deal out of us not scoring in the first quarter last year,” Taylor said. “I remember all that talk. Now you’re hearing it again for the third quarter. But it’s not something we worry about. … Obviously, we try to score on every possession. It’s not like we’re going to go out there and change what we’re doing.”

Against Texas A&M, Nebraska rolled up 136 yards in the first quarter but only 38 in the third. The Huskers led 21-7 early in the second quarter before the Aggies gradually built momentum in the second half as the NU offense sputtered.

“It’s just a mindset, really,” Husker sophomore wideout Todd Peterson said. “It’s like we’re going into halftime, (and) we’re doing really well. I don’t know if we get into a lull, or if we come out and just think it’s going to happen.“

Peterson hears fan criticism that Nebraska coaches need to make better halftime adjustments.

“We’re in there making adjustments like every other team,” he said. “We talk about which plays have worked, which ones we’re going to try to look at, which ones we think we can switch to that will be better. It’s just a matter of execution.”

Whether Nebraska makes major changes at halftime “depends on the game, depends on what the defense is giving us,” Norvell said. “Sometimes we make adjustments, sometimes we feel like we don’t need to make many. If certain things are working, it doesn’t make sense to change or re-invent the wheel.

“It’s something that changes week to week.”

Fortunately for Nebraska, the Husker defense has held firm in third-quarter action, allowing only 22 points in conference play and 29 for the season.

As for opposing defenses, Norvell doesn’t necessarily see a pattern of adjustments, although he noted, “When teams get behind, they start to heat you up a little more (with blitzes) and take more chances. Sometimes that can hurt your execution.“

It’s not as if Nebraska hasn’t moved the ball early in third quarters. For instance, the Huskers had a nine-play drive against Oklahoma State end in a missed field goal from 42 yards. Against Missouri, NU had a 10-play march end on a dropped pass on fourth-and-1.

“It’s not like we’re coming out and playing bad,” Taylor said. “We’re getting our chances. We’re just not catching the breaks.”

On the other hand, Taylor lost fumbles on the first possessions of the third quarter against both Kansas and Iowa State, and NU went three-and-out against K-State.

“We have to do a better job,” Norvell said.“It’s more a matter of us being dialed into what we have to get taken care of.“

Nebraska has made major improvement this season in its rushing attack and pass protection, among other things. Now, stronger third quarters become a point of emphasis.

“We feel like we haven’t played our best football,” Norvell said.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.