COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri eased past Murray State as they rode a momentous start to claim their first win of the season.
The Tigers took a 21-0 lead after five and a half minutes and never looked back. New Missouri defensive coordinator Corey Batoon thrived in his Faurot Field debut, holding the Racers scoreless and under 100 yards of total offense, the first team in school history to accomplish that feat. While the offense missed some opportunities, they were more than effective with their balanced attack and finished with just under 500 yards of total offense.
“Defense is about playing rules,” said linebacker Corey Flagg. “I thought we played the rules.”
Murray State head coach and former South Carolina assistant Jody Wright tried to start the game with some Beamer Ball as he attempted an onside kick on the opening kickoff. Missouri’s Daniel Blood came away with the ball after a scramble to put the Tigers at the Murray State 42 on their opening possession.
The Tigers then moved the ball easily, scoring on the sixth play of the drive when Luther Burden III turned a five-yard hitch up the right side to score the first touchdown of the Mizzou season.
Coach Wright would roll the dice again on the ensuing possession, going for a fourth and one at his own 34. The Missouri defense stymied a quarterback sneak attempt and Nate Noel punched it in from six yards out just a few plays later to put the Tigers up two scores in the blink of an eye.
Defensive lineman Chris McClellan said the stop was huge because it let the defense know that “they were there to set the tone.”
Noel had 11 carries for 48 yards and 4 catches for 20 yards in his Missouri debut.
“It was different,” Noel said of playing in front of an SEC crowd.
On the next play from scrimmage, St. Louis native Toriano Pride jumped a hitch route, taking the interception into the endzone to announce his arrival to the black and gold faithful.
“TP set the town on that one,” said Corey Flagg of the Clemson transfer’s interception.
Missouri tacked on one more touchdown in the first as Marcus Caroll finished off a 70-yard drive to put Missouri up 28-0 to end the quarter. Carroll would finish with 35 yards on six carries alongside two catches for 19 yards.
To start the second quarter, Missouri was driving to score on their fourth consecutive drive before a trick play gone awry led to a fumble in Murray State territory.
Meanwhile, Batoon’s defense continued to dominate, not allowing Murray State to pass midfield in the first half.
With just over four minutes to play in the half, the Tigers were able to string one last drive together. While some clock management issues related to helmet communications nearly allowed the clock to run out, Cook kept an option from three yards out to score with just one second remaining in the half, sending the Tigers to the locker room up 35-0.
After Mizzou had some movement on the first drive of the second half, they had to settle for a field goal. Blake Craig kicked his first collegiate field goal to put Missouri up 38-0. On the ensuing position, the Florida transfer McClellan busted through the middle to force a sack-fumble, giving the ball to Missouri at the Racers’ 10-yard line.
“There was some miscommunication between the guard and the center,” McClellan said. “I saw some space and I took it.”
Two plays later, Jamal Roberts powered in from 3 yards out.
Drew Pyne then led the offense on a nice drive down the field. His longest throw in the air was a 10-yard slant to Daniel Blood. While Missouri found its way inside the five, they were forced to settle for a field goal.
While the personnel changed on defense, the results did not. Although Murray State did cross midfield in the second half, Missouri continued to keep them off the scoreboard.
Kewan Lacy shined in his rushing attempts with the second-teamers. The freshman finished with five carries for 42 yards. Flagg remarked on what a bright future he thought his “twin” might have.
Missouri advanced to 1-0 with the big win. The Tigers will have three days off before they begin preparation for Buffalo on Monday.