Restoring the Roar: The Missouri Tigers

[jayenomics]

Top 25 Losses
#8 Virginia Tech 20 NC State 23
#13 BYU 21 Air Force 24
#18 Kansas 31 #6 Texas 32
#25 LSU 14 Ole Miss 21

Top 25
#1 Oklahoma 11-0 (38)
#2 Penn State 12-0 (22)
#3 West Virginia 10-0 (1)
#4 USC 9-1
#5 Georgia 9-2
#6 Texas 10-1
#7 Florida 10-1
#8 Illinois 9-1
#9 Oregon 9-2
#10 Boise State 8-2
#11 Missouri 8-3
#12 Florida State 9-2
#13 Pittsburgh 9-1
#14 Alabama 8-3
#15 Oklahoma State 8-3
#16 Virginia Tech 8-3
#17 Wisconsin 9-2
#18 Wake Forest 9-2
#19 Georgia Tech 8-3
#20 Iowa 9-3
#21 Nebraska 7-4
#22 NC State 8-3
#23 Marshall 9-2
#24 BYU 8-3
#25 Rutgers 8-2

Dropped Out
LSU 6-5



Jordan Shipley Senior (RS) WR Texas <<>>
7 Receptions 72 Yards Touchdown
Sam Bradford Junior (RS) QB Oklahoma <<>>
23-31 336 Yards 3 Touchdowns, 13 Carries 25 Yards
AJ Green Sophomore WR Georgia <<>>
8 Receptions 139 Yards 2 Touchdowns
Daryll Clark Senior (RS) QB Penn State <<>>
24-39 320 Yards, 9 Carries 12 Yards 3 Total Touchdowns
Colt McCoy Senior (RS) QB Texas <<>>
24-40 281 Yards, 20 Carries 55 Yards 4 Total Touchdowns

[jayenomics]

#11 v
8-3 (6-1) | 7-4 (4-3)

7-7-7-7-28
7-7-3-0-17

Missouri Overcomes Bad Start to Top Jayhawks
Derrick Washington big in return, lose Perry for season

The Border War is always a big deal between Kansas and Missouri, but this one is special. This one was shaping up to be the deciding game in the Big 12 North race, but after two straight loses by Kansas, it's not more then a show of force for Missouri, who has won 4 straight.

It is also the first game back for Derrick Washington, who was lost early in the season opener. Washington was the starting running back coming into the season, his replacement Devion Moore, has had a good year in his stead, but Washington brings a certain level of athleticism that Moore doesn't have.

Washington would have his way on the first drive, capping it off with his first touchdown of the season. Kansas would take a bit longer to get started, but would finally get into the end zone on their third possession on a long pass on a third and short.

Kansas would get what could only be described as a lucky bounce, as the ball would deflect off a Missouri corner right into the hands of their receiver, who would not be caught.

Gabbert would have one of his worst halfs of the season, throwing two interceptions, and losing a fumble, all in Kansas territory. With all the poor play, Missouri would still be tied at the half.

The Missouri defense would make up for the errors of their offense in the first half on the first drive of the second half for Kansas, as Hardy Ricks would pick off Kerry Meier and take it back 53 yards for the score, and the lead.

Kansas would tack on a field goal to cut the lead to just four, but Derrick Washington and the offense would put it away early in the the fourth as Washington would punch it in from 19 yards out, the defense would stop Kansas on a fourth down on their next drive, and that would do it.

Wes Kemp Hauls in the Catch of the Year.

STATISTICS
MIZZOU - Blaine Gabbert 10-21 202 Yards Touchdown 2 Interceptions
KU - Kerry Meier 20-34 354 Yards 2 Touchdowns 2 Interceptions

MIZZOU - Derrick Washington 32 Carries 169 Yards 2 Touchdowns
KU - Jake Sharp 6 Carries 10 Yards

MIZZOU - Wes Kemp 2 Receptions 80 Yards Touchdown
KU - Jake Sharp 7 Catches 107 Yards

MIZZOU - Andrew Gachkar 6 Tackles
MIZZOU - Hardy Ricks 4 Tackles Tackle for Loss Interception Touchdown
KU - Stephen Johnson 10 Tackles 2 Tackles for Loss 2 Sacks
KU - Darrell Stuckey 9 Tackles

FIRST QUARTER
TD MIZZOU Washington 2 Yard Run 7-0 MIZZOU
TD KU Briscoe 63 Yard Pass from Meier 7-7

SECOND QUARTER
TD KU Pendelton 66 Yard Pass from Meier 14-7 KU
TD MIZZOU Kemp 23 Yards Pass from Gabbert 14-14

THIRD QUARTER
TD MIZZOU Ricks 53 Yard Interception Return 21-14 MIZZOU
FG KU Branstetter 40 Yards 21-17 MIZZOU

FOURTH QUARTER
TD MIZZOU Washington 19 Yard Run 28-17 MIZZOU

[jayenomics]

#9 v #1
9-3 (7-1) | 12-0 (8-0)

After a rocky start to the year, the Missouri Tigers reeled off five straight wins to finish the season 9-3 for the season, and an outstanding 7-1 in the Big 12, including wins against then 5th ranked Oklahoma State. Missouri has been in every game besides their blowout at the hands of Texas, who's only loss came at the hands of Big 12 South Champions, and #1 overall Oklahoma.

Oklahoma, led by heisman hopeful Sam Bradford, who has thrown for 3645 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just five interceptions on the season.

On the other side, only one team has ran for more yards then the Tigers, who have used ball control to slow the high powered offenses in the Big 12, and made just enough big plays on defense to put Missouri in a position to not only win the Big 12, but to knock Oklahoma out of the national championship game and send PAC-10 champion USC on to face Penn State.

Missouri, who led the league in turnovers early in the season, turned the ball over just 4 times in the last five games, three of those in the season finale against Kansas.

Oklahoma is 24 point favorites, but if I were a betting man I'd take Missouri to at least keep it close. They may not win, and probably won't but Missouri is primed to finish with another 10 win season, and a solid recruiting class, and a bright future.

[jayenomics]

#9 v #1
9-3 (7-1) | 12-0 (8-0)

0-7-0-10-17
13-11-7-0-31

OU Storms Out to Early Lead, Holds On
Missouri Gives Sooners Scare

Early in the season it looked unlikely that Missouri would return to the Big 12 Championship game, but after a late season run the Tigers would make it to the big dance in Kansas City, against number one overall Oklahoma, who has looked like world beaters all season behind the play of last year's Heisman winner Sam Bradford.

Oklahoma jumped out to an early lead as Blaine Gabbert was picked off in the first quarter which led to the first touchdown of the game, but after Bradford was knocked from the game the Tigers began to claw back in.

The Missouri defense forced three turnovers, including Bradford's sixth interception of the season, but the Oklahoma defense was too much for the Mizzou offense, who managed just 248 yards, and went 6-18 on third downs.

Gabbert finished just 19 of 40, plagued by drops all afternoon. With Jared Perry out of the lineup, the Oklahoma defense was able to key more on Jarrell Jackson and Danario Alexander. Both had solid games, but were unable to to do continuous damage. The main difference between the teams was the running game.

Missouri was unable to ever get started on the ground, as Derrick Washington was only able to manage 22 yards on 13 carries, while DeMarco Murray carried 19 times for 80 yards and a score.

STATISTICS
MIZZOU - Blaine Gabbert 19-40 224 Yards 2 Touchdowns Interception
OKLA - Sam Bradford 19-26 296 Yards 2 Touchdowns Interception
OKLA - Landry Jones 13-23 115 Yards

MIZZOU - Derrick Washington 13 Carries 22 Yards
OKLA - DeMarco Murray 19 Carries 80 Yards Touchdown

MIZZOU - Danario Alexander 7 Catches 84 Yards Touchdown
MIZZOU - Jarrell Jackson 6 Catches 75 Yards
OKLA - Ryan Broyles 13 Catches 196 Yards 2 Touchdowns
OKLA - Adron Tennell 8 Catches 77 Yards

MIZZOU - Brad Madison 13 Tackles 4 Tackles for Loss 2 Sacks
MIZZOU - Hardy Ricks 10 Tackles
OKLA - Ryan Reynolds 6 Tackles Tackle For Loss
OKLA - Jeremy Beal 5 Tackles 2 Tackles for Loss

FIRST QUARTER
FG OKLA Stevens 29 Yards 3-0 OKLA
TD OKLA Broyles 36 Yards Pass from Bradford 10-0 OKLA
FG OKLA Stevens 31 Yards 13-0 OKLA

SECOND QUARTER
TD OKLA Broyles 25 Yard Pass from Bradford (2PT Good) 21-0 OKLA
TD MIZZOU Alexander 3 Yard Pass from Gabbert 21-7 OKLA
FG OKLA Stevens 35 Yards 24-7 OKLA

THIRD QUARTER
TD OKLA Murray 1 Yard Run 31-7 OKLA

FOURTH QUARTER
FG MIZZOU Mills 35 Yards 31-10 OKLA
TD MIZZOU Kemp 4 Yard Pass from Gabbert 31-17 OKLA

[jayenomics]

Ok so I had my bowl game all written up, I lost an insane back and forth game on a touchdown with 25 seconds to go, 35-30. I'm not going to rewrite it, but I'll continue from there.

[jayenomics]

Final Top 25
#1 Oklahoma 14-0
#2 USC 12-1
#3 Georgia 12-2
#4 Texas 12-1
#5 Penn State 12-1
#6 Oregon 11-2
#7 Florida 11-2
#8 West Virginia 11-2
#9 Wisconsin 11-2
#10 Florida State 10-3
#11 Rutgers 11-2
#12 Boise State 10-3
#13 NC State 10-3
#14 Ole Miss 9-4
#15 Alabama 10-4
#16 Utah 10-3
#17 Pittsburgh 10-3
#18 Virginia Tech 10-4
#19 Oklahoma State 9-4
#20 Illinois 10-3
#21 Air Force 9-4
#22 Iowa 9-4
#23 Notre Dame 9-4
#24 Cincinnati 9-4
#25 Michigan State 9-4

[jayenomics]

Players Leaving

Graduation
LOLB Sean Weatherspoon 92 OVR
RG Kurtis Gregory 91 OVR
WR Jared Perry 89 OVR
DT Jaron Baston 88 OVR
WR Danario Alexander 88 OVR
RE Brian Coulter 85 OVR
K Tanner Mills 80 OVR
P Jake Harry 80 OVR
FS Del Howard 76 OVR
SS Hardy Ricks 76 OVR
TE Jon Gissinger 71 OVR

[DerkontheOS]

Looks like you lost some key players there...Do you have the players to replace them?