Game report: No. 21 Missouri 27, Arkansas State 20
First quarter
Key play: Junior quarterback Maty Mauk hit sophomores J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown on consecutive plays for gains of 16 and 19 yards, which put Missouri in position for a field goal and the only points of the quarter.
Key stat: Senior running back Russell Hansbrough had four carries for 12 yards. He was questionable for the game with a sprained right ankle, but wasn’t terribly effective and only had one more carry in the game.
Second quarter
Key play: Pick one of Arkansas State senior receiver Tres Houston’s two circus touchdown catches. The first, a one-handed overhead stab, was reminiscent of New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham’s famed grab last season. The second was initially ruled incomplete but overturned upon review.
Key stat: Missouri was outgained 180-106 in the first half.
Third quarter
Key play: Missouri retook the lead when junior tight end Sean Culkin caught a pass in the deep flat and turned on the jets, motoring 21 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
Key stat: Mauk passed Blaine Gabbert for fourth on Missouri’s all-time list for touchdown passes with that touchdown to Culkin. It was Mauk’s third TD of the game, second of the quarter and 41st in his career.
Fourth quarter
Key play: Three plays after senior star J.D. McKissic left the game because of an injury, Arkansas State’s possible game-tying drive fizzled when Missouri sophomore defensive end Charles Harris dropped backup quarterback James Tabary for an 8-yard loss on third down.
Key stat: Harris finished with six tackles, including career highs of 4 1/2 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Player of the game: Senior linebacker Kentrell Brothers finished with a career-best 16 tackles for the second straight week. He had 1 1/2 tackles for a loss and two fourth-quarter interceptions.
Reason to hope: Missouri has won 11 consecutive road games and its defense recorded 15 tackles for a loss on 75 Arkansas State snaps and allowed an average of 2.9 yards per play.
Reason to mope: The Tigers have an absentee run game and a MASH unit in the backfield. Hansbrough has an sprained ankle, sophomore Ish Witter “got dinged” against Arkansas State, senior Tyler Hunt is battling a groin injury and junior Morgan Steward remains limited after a hip injury.
Looking ahead: Missouri returns home against a bad Connecticut team in the final tune-up before SEC plays commences. Mission accomplished in Jonesboro, but there’s plenty of work for the Tigers to do.
| Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com
Report card
C | Offense | Missouri only had 282 yards, and the quarterbacks threw three interceptions that put the defense in tough situations. |
A | Defense | The Tigers’ D only allowed 217 total yards, including 37 in the second half, and forced three turnovers. |
B+ | Special teams | Punter Corey Fatony was marvelous again, and Andrew Baggett was perfect on his kicks, but Missouri could use more in the return game. |
B | Coaching | Defensive coordinator Barry Odom’s halftime adjustments led to domination, but the offense remains plagued by inconsistency. |
This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 11:12 PM with the headline "Game report: No. 21 Missouri 27, Arkansas State 20."