Missouri snaps three-game losing streak, beats Memphis 65-33 behind Drew Lock’s four TDs

Barry Odom got Missouri back on the saddle Saturday, as the Tigers stopped a three-game losing streak with a 65-33 blowout win over Memphis.

Missouri improved to 4-3 with a huge game against No. 14 Kentucky coming next week.

After a rough three-game stretch, Drew Lock looked like his old self, completing 23 of 29 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns.

Missouri’s defense came out ready to play, but caught a break early. Memphis running back Darrell Henderson, who entered the game as the nation’s leading rusher, was held to four carries for 15 yards before leaving the game due to injury.

Either way, Odom’s defense had its best opening quarter of the season. Cornerback Christian Holmes nearly had an interception on third down, but Missouri still held Memphis scoreless on its initial drive.

Mizzou raced out to a 21-0 lead despite the absence of senior wideouts Nate Brown and Emanuel Hall for the third straight week. Lock and Co. took the field with good field position after Jerney Jones blocked Memphis’ punt, to start Mizzou at the visitors’ 27-yard line.

Lock set Mizzou up for first-and-goal with a 19-yard run, and tailback Larry Rountree ran in MU’s first touchdown two plays later for an early 7-0 lead.

Holmes would get his interception the next series with a pick-six that put Missouri up 14-0 with 9:18 left. Tailback Damarea Crockett scored Missouri’s third touchdown in two drives to open the game with 21 unanswered points. Lock got Missouri into Memphis territory on a 41-yard pass to true freshman Jalen Knox.

It turns out Memphis had a response of its own, with help from Missouri. Mike Norvell’s squad replied with 17 unanswered points of its own. After getting a stop on third down, Missouri handed Memphis a first down after defensive end Tre Williams got flagged for roughing the passer. Mizzou minimized the damage to a field goal but had history repeat itself the following drive.

Akail Byers jumped offsides on a third down play that resulted in an incompletion. The penalty kept the drive alive, and two plays later, backup running back Patrick Taylor ran into the end zone to cut the score to 21-10. After a uncharacteristic 16-yard punt by Corey Fatony to start Memphis’ drive at Missouri’s 32-yard line, quarterback Brady White found Tony Pollard for a 3-yard touchdown on the second play of the drive.

With the game turning against him, Odom showed some stones on Missouri’s ensuing drive. Facing fourth-and-1 from his own 34, Missouri went for it and converted with Lock finding Johnathon Johnson for an 8-yard strike. After another pass to Johnson, Lock found tight end Albert Okwuegbunam on their trademark play action, for a 58-yard touchdown to make it 27-17. Okwuegbunam had three touchdowns and a career-high 159 receiving yards.

Missouri cornerback Adam Sparks picked off White two plays into the next series at Memphis’ 44-yard line, to set up another Missouri touchdown: Lock hit Knox for a 44-yard TD to extend Missouri’s lead to 34-17.

Missouri poured it on after touchdowns by Rountree and Okwuegbunam to go into halftime up 48-20. The duo would add a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to extend Missouri’s lead to 62-27.

MU’s next game against the Wildcats starts a two-game stretch where Missouri will face ranked teams, with No. 11 Florida following the week after. Either win would go a long way toward enhancing Odom’s job security.

This story was originally published October 20, 2018 at 6:47 PM.