Game report: Tennessee 63, Missouri 37

First quarter

The key: Missouri freshman running back Damarea Crockett plowed off the right side, then burst 22 yards to the end zone on the offense’s opening drive — a 12-play, 88-yard march. The Tigers rushed for 112 yards in 15 first-quarter carries, a robust 7.5-yard average, but trailed 7-6 after another missed extra point.

Second quarter

The key: Tennessee senior quarterback Josh Dobbs was 13 of 17 for 215 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the first half. That included a 57-yard bomb to Josh Malone in the second quarter.

Third quarter

The key: Trailing 21-20 at halftime, Mizzou sophomore quarterback Drew Lock threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage that led to a Tennessee touchdown.

Fourth quarter

The key: Early in the fourth quarter, Dobbs ran left, juked past Mizzou safety Thomas Wilson and scampered 70 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest run of his career and iced the senior day win for Tennessee.

Offense

B-

Statistically, Mizzou was fantastic in setting school records for plays (110) and first downs (41) and totaling 740 yards, which is only 4 off the single-game record. However, four turnovers, which led to 14 points for Tennessee, prevent the Tigers from receiving a higher grade.

Defense

F

The defense allowed 609 yards and an average of 9.1 yards per play. Mizzou also failed to force a turnover and coughed up the most points it has allowed since a 66-0 loss in the 1999 season finale at Kansas State.

Special teams

D-

Junior walk-on Ben Tesson, a Drake transfer, missed a first-quarter extra point. Completely lacking faith in his kickers, Barry Odom eschewed two midrange field goals in the first half. The return game continues to provide very little.

Coaching

D+

Not that it mattered, but Missouri’s decision not to go for two points down 49-36 was curious. There also were two inexcusable substitution infractions and the inability to find any solutions for a leaky defense.

Player of the game: Tennessee senior quarterback Josh Dobbs was 15 of 22 for 223 yards passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 10 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 70-yard run for his second TD. It was a fitting home finale for the four-year starter.

Reason to hope: Missouri’s offense was fantastic aside from the turnovers and Crockett is a star. He set the Tigers’ single-game freshman rushing record with 225 yards in 24 carries, including a 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. That eclipsed Brad Smith’s 213-yard performance versus Oklahoma in 2002. Crockett, who now has 153 carries for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, also broke Smith’s freshman rushing record of 1,029 yards in 2002.

Reason to mope: Coach Barry Odom’s squad totaled 740 yards and lost by 26 points. It’s the most yards Tennessee has ever allowed in a game, but it came in a lopsided rout because the defense allowed more than 9 yards per play.

Looking ahead: Missouri wraps up the season at 1:30 p.m. Friday against Arkansas at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers, 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the SEC, will be trying to end Odom’s inaugural season on a high note.

This story was originally published November 19, 2016 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Game report: Tennessee 63, Missouri 37."