Mizzou’s run game was dominant Saturday. But this unit made a difference, too

Missouri’s defense dictated everything in Saturday’s 52-10 win over Louisiana at Memorial Stadium.

The Ragin’ Cajuns managed just 121 total yards, and 83 of those came on a single touchdown run from Zylan Perry late in the first half. Outside of that play, Louisiana’s offense produced only 34 rushing yards and four passing yards.

From the opening whistle, Missouri’s defensive front suffocated the Cajuns.

Linebacker Khalil Jacobs and edge rusher Damon Wilson blew up a second-and-5 run on UL’s first drive, setting the tone for what would become a long afternoon for the Ragin’ Cajuns. The Tigers forced a three-and-out to open the game and didn’t let up, recording seven of them on the afternoon.

After Missouri scored on its opening possession, West Virginia transfer Josiah Trotter delivered the game’s first major defensive highlight. On consecutive downs, he broke through the line for tackles for loss, pushing Louisiana behind the sticks and forcing another punt.

“It just sparks the defense,” Jacobs said of Trotter’s early impact. “Whenever you get plays like that, momentum comes, not just to the defense, but the whole team.”

Louisiana’s third drive followed the same script. Facing third-and-2, Ohio transfer Bralen Henderson and Zion Young met Perry at the line of scrimmage, stuffing the play short of the marker. It was another quick possession for a Cajuns offense that never found its footing.

Louisiana punting after three largely futile downs defined the game. Missouri’s defensive front kept up the heat no matter who was on the field. The front seven piled up eight tackles for loss, with contributions from nearly every linebacker, edge rusher, and defensive tackle.

Drinkwitz praised the defensive effort afterward, pointing to the unit’s ability to consistently disrupt plays before they developed.

“Outside of two plays — the (MU-thrown) interception and that (UL) long run — I really felt like we dominated that game,” Drinkwitz said. “We were able to create some havoc on third downs, and we played a lot tighter coverage. They didn’t have a lot of space to work with.”

The Tigers finished with two sacks, each coming at key moments. Jacobs got to quarterback Daniel Beale midway through the second quarter, dropping him on third-and-10 and forcing another punt. In the third quarter, Wilson broke through for a sack on second down, killing momentum before it started.

By halftime, Louisiana had totaled just 108 yards across eight possessions, with Beale completing one pass for 5 yards on eight attempts. The freshman never had time to get comfortable in the pocket.

“Pressure creates takeaways,” Jacobs said. “It goes hand in hand. Cover sacks are always a thing, so I guess you could say we had both today.”

The Ragin’ Cajuns alternated between Beale and mobile quarterback Lunch Winfield, but neither found success. Missouri’s front four consistently collapsed the pocket, and the linebackers swarmed ball carriers before they reached the line of scrimmage.

Louisiana’s rushing attack, normally the foundation of its offense, was neutralized outside of Perry’s breakaway run. Missouri defenders plugged holes, shed blocks and tackled in space, preventing Louisiana from finding rhythm.

Jacobs, who finished with a sack and multiple tackles near the line, said the defensive approach was simple: play aggressively and stay disciplined for four quarters.

“No matter the opponent, no matter who we play, we cycle out there and play with our standard,” Jacobs said.

The dominance was also a product of depth. Missouri rolled through rotations of linebackers and linemen without losing energy or productivity. That depth allowed the Tigers to withstand the heat — with field-level turf temperatures reportedly over 170 degrees — while still overwhelming UL’s offensive line.

The defensive performance also reflected the program’s emphasis on physicality and disruption at the line of scrimmage. Transfers like Trotter, Henderson, Young and Wilson have bolstered the unit, while veterans such as Jacobs provide consistency. The result has been a front that can both pressure quarterbacks and stifle running games.

For Drinkwitz, Saturday’s showing underscored the mentality he’s been pushing since fall camp.

“I challenged our guys to demonstrate an elite edge, to demand it from themselves and others, and to dominate their opponent for four quarters,” Drinkwitz said. “And outside of a couple plays, that’s what they did.”

The box score backed him up. Louisiana averaged less than 4 yards per play, converted only 2 of 13 third downs, and punted nine times. Every possession felt like a battle, and nearly every one ended the same way, stalled and sent back to the sideline.

Whether it was Trotter knifing through the line for back-to-back stops, Wilson crashing in for a sack or Jacobs delivering another tackle in the backfield, Missouri’s defensive front dictated the game from start to finish.

Copyright 2025 Columbia Missourian

This story was originally published September 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Mizzou’s run game was dominant Saturday. But this unit made a difference, too."