Game report: Missouri 28, Arkansas 24

First quarter

The key: On the first play from scrimmage, Arkansas junior quarterback Austin Allen ran a bootleg and spotted senior wide receiver Keon Hatcher all alone 15 yards downfield. Hatcher was finally tackled at the Missouri 1-yard line. Coach Bret Bielema’s squad punched it from there one play later for a lead only 55 seconds into the game.

Second quarter

The key: Arkansas had three first-half scoring drives that lasted at least 5 minutes and 22 seconds. Meanwhile, Missouri only had 5:40 in time of possession during the entire opening half, running 19 plays compared to 49 for the Razorbacks.

Third quarter

The key: Backed up against MU’s own goal line, coach Barry Odom ran a gutsy fake punt from the Mizzou 7. Junior safety Anthony Sherrils gained 14 yards after taking a direct snap and cut into a 10-point lead with a 67-yard touchdown to redshirt freshman Johnathon Johnson a few plays later.

Fourth quarter

The key: Protecting a four-point lead, Missouri senior cornerback Aarion Penton broke in front of Arkansas senior wide receiver Dominique Reed for an interception in the end zone with 4:02 remaining. The Tigers’ defense still needed to make one more stand, but it was a potentially game-saving play.

Offense

B-

Missouri still only had 399 yards against an Arkansas defense that had been getting shredded. Dropped passes probably cost the Tigers a few more touchdowns, but sophomore quarterback Drew Lock didn’t throw any interceptions. Mizzou won the turnover battle after being minus-6 during the last three games.

Defense

B

The Tigers still gave up more than 500 yards, but it’s hard to do better than a second-half shutout. The interceptions by freshman linebacker Cale Garrett and Penton in the end zone were game-altering plays and offset the difference in yardage allowed.

Special teams

C+

Sophomore Corey Fatony shanked his first punt and the return game remained a nonfactor, but freshman kicker Tucker McCann was flawless on extra points. The plus is for Missouri’s fake punt from its own 7, which included an Oscar-worthy sell job by Fatony, that kept momentum with Odom’s crew.

Coaching

B+

After sleepwalking through the first half, it’s hard to give Odom and his staff a perfect grade, but the comeback speaks volumes about the team’s fight and desire at the end of a lost season, which was capped by a particularly tumultuous week. Damarea Crockett’s suspension, Jackie Shipp’s firing and a looming NCAA investigation didn’t derail the Tigers from reclaiming the Battle Line Rivalry trophy.

Player of the game: Senior cornerback Aarion Penton finished with six tackles, including a half-tackle for a loss. He also broke up two passes, but it was his pressure against Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen on a blitz that forced a bad throw that was intercepted by freshman linebacker Cale Garrett and ignited the comeback. Penton then preserved the win with an interception of his own.

Reason to hope: Missouri won two of its final three games, closing the season on an upswing. Most of the Tigers’ record-setting offense returns and it’s a good bet coach Barry Odom will take great pains to improve a struggling defense during the offseason. It was an inauspicious start, but the Arkansas win should be a nice springboard into the offseason.

Reason to mope: Mizzou trailed 24-7 at halftime after a lifeless first half. That’s hard to simply dismiss. The Tigers also lose several key contributors — Penton, fellow cornerback John Gibson, linebacker Michael Scherer and defensive tackles Josh Augusta and Rickey Hatley along with defensive end Charles Harris, who might declare for the NFL Draft — on a defense that already had significant issues.

Looking ahead: Missouri’s season is finished and Odom’s attention now turns to recruiting as he and his staff hit the trail Sunday when the open recruiting period begins.

This story was originally published November 25, 2016 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Game report: Missouri 28, Arkansas 24."