MU game report
FIRST QUARTER
Key play: Other than Southeast Missouri winning the coin toss and electing to kick off to Missouri? Well, Ziggy Hood’s block of a 28-yard Redhawks field-goal attempt preserved the first-quarter shutout.
Key stat: Missouri rolled up 228 yards total offense on 17 plays, averaging 13.4 yards per play.
SECOND QUARTER
Key play: Sean Weatherspoon’s 65-yard interception return for a touchdown boosted Missouri’s lead to 35-0.
Key stat: Weatherspoon returned another pick 35 yards for a TD against Illinois. The junior linebacker thus became the first in Missouri history to return interceptions for touchdowns in back-to-back games.
THIRD QUARTER
Key play: With only 6 seconds gone, true freshman quarterback Blaine Gabbert burned his redshirt. Missouri has now committed to getting some experience for the quarterback expected to replace Chase Daniel next season.
Key stat: Jeff Wolfert is two for two in field goals this season, both from long range. He kicked a 43-yard three-pointer on Saturday to go with a 51-yarder against Illinois
FOURTH QUARTER
Key play: Reserve tailback Jimmy Jackson scored on a 17-yard run with 9 minutes, 38 seconds to play.
Key stat: Three. The number of quarterbacks Missouri played. Daniel left the game with 4 minutes left in the first half. He was replaced by senior Chase Patton. Patton and true freshman Gabbert split time in the second half.
Player of the game: Daniel (right) may never have been hotter. He hit 16 of 17 passes (and the last 14 straight) for 245 yards and TD passes of 3, 28 and 28 yards before he went to the sidelines.
Reason to hope: Missouri could have sleep-walked through this one. Instead, the Tigers came out on fire, playing their game without worrying about the quality of the opposition.
Reason to mope: Too many Southeast Missouri receivers were open too often. Missouri better fix its coverage problems downfield before it costs the Tigers big time.
Looking ahead: Nevada is a step up in competition from Southeast Missouri, but a step down from Illinois.
REPORT CARD
| A | Offense | We took away the plus because it really wasn’t sporting of MU the way the Tigers used razzle dazzle to score the final TD of the first quarter. Jeremy Maclin at QB fires a pitch right to Chase Daniel, who hits Derrick Washington on a throwback. |
| A | Defense | Even with Kevin Rutland replacing safety William Moore (sore foot) and Tremane Vaughns taking over early at cornerback from Castine Bridges, Missouri left too many receivers open early. |
| A | Special teams | Well, kicker Jeff Wolfert was perfect on all those extra points and kicked a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter. Maclin didn’t return a kickoff or a punt for a TD, but he only played the first half. |
| A | Coaching | Gary Pinkel played Maclin because he wasn’t hobbled by his ankle injury. Pinkel didn’t play Moore more because his sprained foot was limiting him. And credit Pinkel for pulling Daniel, Maclin, Derrick Washington and Chase Coffman early. |
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