Missouri running backs Marcus Murphy, Russell Hansbrough suffer fourth-quarter injuries
Missouri senior running back Marcus Murphy established a career high Saturday with 94 yards rushing.
He also left the game late in the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle.
“I think it’s really mild,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “I think he could have went in if we needed him to.”
Murphy’s status is worrisome after junior running back Russell Hansbrough, the co-starter with Murphy, also left the game after suffering an unspecified injury on the first play of the fourth quarter.
“Russell got dinged a little bit,” Pinkel said. “(Missouri head athletic trainer) Rex (Sharp’s) comment to me was it wasn’t bad, but there was no sense in putting him back in.”
Missouri’s third-string running back, sophomore Morgan Steward, has been sidelined since the first week of training camp with a hip injury.
Two players joined Steward as pregame scratches, senior defensive tackle Matt Hoch (pectoral strain) and freshman wide receiver Lawrence Lee (ankle sprain).
Big day for D
Sophomore middle linebacker Michael Scherer had a career-best and team-high 10 tackles against Central Florida, but junior defensive end Shane Ray had a show-stealing performance.
Ray, a Bishop Miege graduate, set a career high with four tackles for a loss and matched his career high for sacks (two) and tackles (seven).
On his fourth-quarter sack in the red zone, Ray forced a fumble, which was recovered by Scherer.
Seniors Markus Golden and Lucas Vincent were each credited with 1 1/2 sacks. Vincent doubled his career total with his performance.
Green gets start
Junior linebacker Clarence Green got his first career start Saturday at strong-side linebacker.
“It was a blessing,” Green said. “All this hard work for four years, sometimes I got doubtful of myself, but my roommates — Markus Golden and Denzel (Martin) — told me, ‘Keep your head up. We’re going to need you this year.’”
To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to tpalmer@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter at @todpalmer.
This story was originally published September 13, 2014 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Missouri running backs Marcus Murphy, Russell Hansbrough suffer fourth-quarter injuries."