Re: When the Defense Roars: Missouri Tigers Dynasty
The Missouri Tigers last faced the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1978. It was a glorified whooping as the Tide marched towards a national championship.
This time the Tigers provided the whooping as the young squad suggested that perhaps they just reload in Columbia, MO anymore.
The first quarter was just a defensive battle, the Tide couldn't get their offense rolling and neither could the Tigers. The Tigers intercepted Hutson Mason on his very first pass attempt of the game, but then David Steele promptly fumbled it back to the Tide on the very next play.
Finally with 1:04 left in the first period David Steele punched it into the endzone with a 2 yard rush, making it 7-0 Tigers.
A D.J. Washington interception later, and the Tigers scored on a 15 yard pass from E. Torres to W. Leftwich with 0:31 left in the first period to go up 14-0.
The second period was more of the same as C. O'Connor nailed a 49 yard field goal with 3:01 left, and David Steele tasted paydirt at 0:29 with a short 7 yard rush to make it 24-0 Tigers.
The Tigers outgained the Tide 200-91 in the first half with 71 rushing yards and 129 passing and just the one turnover. The Tide attack was 28 rushing and 63 passing with 6 first downs and 2 turnovers.
Alabama finally got on the board with 4:56 left in the third quarter when S. Smith broke free and gobbled up 74 yards to make it 24-6. The Tide went for two with a wildcat formation but Smith was stuffed, and the Tide had to kickoff down 24-6.
Alabama's offensive line was dominated by the front four of the Tigers, they had no answer for three quarters, giving up multiple sacks and tackles for loss. Alabama finally scored again at 0:58 left in the third with a H. Manson 37 yard pass to D. Harwell for a TD making it 24-13 Tigers, but the Tide had the momentum.
Missouri made the odd decision of running a no-huddle hurry up offense to finish the third quarter and start the fourth despite it being a field position battle. With 5:56 left in the fourth quarter H. Manson was backed up on 3rd and 17 in his own endzone and went for the homerun. Unfortunately he overthrew his receiver and hit D.J. Washington who ran it back to the five yard line.
Missouri punched it in with a pass from E. Torres to David Steele for 7 yards and 7 points with 5:04 left in the game, with the Tigers up 31-13.
Alabama fought down the field and into the red zone but the Tigers defense just bent, didn't break, and forced the Tide to settle for a 37 yard field goal, making it 31-16 with 3:31 left in the game. Missouri retaliated by recovering the onside kick and then increasing the score on one play with David Steele rumbled 45 yards for another TD, making it 38-16 with 3:26 left to play.
Missouri got the ball back and Steele hit paydirt one more time, just reinforcing that the Tide do not have the premiere running back anymore, Mizzou does. Steele's final 47 yard TD rush with 1:36 left capped a great day for him and all Missouri fans. Steele finished with 26 touches, 167 yards, 4 TD, 1 catch for 7 yards and another TD.
Steele jogging in his 4th rushing TD of the game
Missouri POTGs:
Offense: David Steele: 26 rushes for 167 yards and 4 TD and he also had a catch for 7 yards and TD.
Defense: D.J. Washington 5 tackles, 2 int.
Tigers trump Tide in Chik-Fil-A-Kickoff Game
The Missouri Tigers last faced the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1978. It was a glorified whooping as the Tide marched towards a national championship.
This time the Tigers provided the whooping as the young squad suggested that perhaps they just reload in Columbia, MO anymore.
The first quarter was just a defensive battle, the Tide couldn't get their offense rolling and neither could the Tigers. The Tigers intercepted Hutson Mason on his very first pass attempt of the game, but then David Steele promptly fumbled it back to the Tide on the very next play.
Finally with 1:04 left in the first period David Steele punched it into the endzone with a 2 yard rush, making it 7-0 Tigers.
A D.J. Washington interception later, and the Tigers scored on a 15 yard pass from E. Torres to W. Leftwich with 0:31 left in the first period to go up 14-0.
The second period was more of the same as C. O'Connor nailed a 49 yard field goal with 3:01 left, and David Steele tasted paydirt at 0:29 with a short 7 yard rush to make it 24-0 Tigers.
The Tigers outgained the Tide 200-91 in the first half with 71 rushing yards and 129 passing and just the one turnover. The Tide attack was 28 rushing and 63 passing with 6 first downs and 2 turnovers.
Alabama finally got on the board with 4:56 left in the third quarter when S. Smith broke free and gobbled up 74 yards to make it 24-6. The Tide went for two with a wildcat formation but Smith was stuffed, and the Tide had to kickoff down 24-6.
S. Smith breaking 3 tackles on his way to the endzone
Alabama's offensive line was dominated by the front four of the Tigers, they had no answer for three quarters, giving up multiple sacks and tackles for loss. Alabama finally scored again at 0:58 left in the third with a H. Manson 37 yard pass to D. Harwell for a TD making it 24-13 Tigers, but the Tide had the momentum.
Missouri made the odd decision of running a no-huddle hurry up offense to finish the third quarter and start the fourth despite it being a field position battle. With 5:56 left in the fourth quarter H. Manson was backed up on 3rd and 17 in his own endzone and went for the homerun. Unfortunately he overthrew his receiver and hit D.J. Washington who ran it back to the five yard line.
Missouri punched it in with a pass from E. Torres to David Steele for 7 yards and 7 points with 5:04 left in the game, with the Tigers up 31-13.
Alabama fought down the field and into the red zone but the Tigers defense just bent, didn't break, and forced the Tide to settle for a 37 yard field goal, making it 31-16 with 3:31 left in the game. Missouri retaliated by recovering the onside kick and then increasing the score on one play with David Steele rumbled 45 yards for another TD, making it 38-16 with 3:26 left to play.
Missouri got the ball back and Steele hit paydirt one more time, just reinforcing that the Tide do not have the premiere running back anymore, Mizzou does. Steele's final 47 yard TD rush with 1:36 left capped a great day for him and all Missouri fans. Steele finished with 26 touches, 167 yards, 4 TD, 1 catch for 7 yards and another TD.
Steele jogging in his 4th rushing TD of the game
Missouri POTGs:
Offense: David Steele: 26 rushes for 167 yards and 4 TD and he also had a catch for 7 yards and TD.
Defense: D.J. Washington 5 tackles, 2 int.
| Missouri Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide | |||||
| Aug 31, 2013 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| #3 Missouri Tigers (0-0) | 10 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 45 |
| #24 Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0) | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| Team Stats Comparison | ||
| MIZZ | ALA | |
| Total Offense | 374 | 329 |
| Rushing Yards | 225 | 99 |
| Passing Yards | 149 | 230 |
| First Downs | 18 | 21 |
| Punt Return Yards | 65 | 10 |
| Kick Return Yards | 50 | 62 |
| Total Yards | 489 | 401 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 3-11 (27%) | 4-16 (25%) |
| 4th Down Conversion | 1-1 (100%) | 1-2 (50%) |
| 2-Point Conversion | 0-0 | 0-1 |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 6-4-0 (66%) | 3-0-1 (33%) |
| Penalties | 0-0 | 4-33 |
| Posession Time | ||
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