Game report: Arkansas 28, Missouri 3

One of the few highlights for Missouri on Friday was Corey Fatony becoming the first punter in program history with 80 punts in a single season. One of those punts came against Vanderbilt in October. File photo by Mark Humphrey The Associated Press

First quarter

Key play: Arkansas junior tailback Alex Collins ran straight ahead and plowed a couple Missouri defenders into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown on the final play of the quarter, capping an 11-play, 53-yard drive.

Key stat: Arkansas totaled minus-9 yards on its first eight plays from scrimmage before its offensive line asserted its dominance. The Razorbacks racked up 57 yards on the next nine plays, including Collins’ touchdown.

Second quarter

Key play: Collins carved up Missouri’s defense on a 25-yard touchdown run, weaving through nearly a half-dozen defenders for his third score with 39 seconds left before halftime.

Key stat: Arkansas dominated time of possession 20:58-9:02 and outgained Missouri 211-93 overall.

Third quarter

Key play: Arkansas junior running back Kody Walker, a Jefferson City native, capped a 34-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown on the fifth play.

Key stat: Missouri freshman Corey Fatony became the first punter in program history with 80 punts in a single season with his third third-quarter punt. The Tigers’ single-season record had been 79 by Jason Smith in 1995.

Fourth quarter

Key play: Missouri’s last offensive snap of the season was an interception in the end zone by freshman quarterback Drew Lock with 1:10 remaining.

Key stat: Missouri finished with 171 total yards on offense, including a season-low 83 passing yards. The Tigers only managed fewer total yards in a loss Oct. 17 at Georgia (164).

The grades

Offense

Missouri had a season-low 83 passing yards and completed only one of every three throws, while gaining 88 yards rushing on 25 carries.

Defense

C+

Missouri gave up 208 yards rushing and 28 points, the second-most this season. Still, considering Arkansas’ 40:15 time of possession, allowing 310 yards of total offense, the second-fewest of the season for the Hogs, wasn’t bad.

Special teams

In addition to dropped kickoffs and punts, Corey Fatony had another off game punting. Fatony set a team record with 81 punts this season, including eight against Arkansas.

Coaching

D-

Coach Gary Pinkel admitted that he noticed a lack of focus among his players the last few weeks and couldn’t get it fixed. The offense continued to be ineffective, and the run defense got gashed for a second straight week.

Takeaways

Player of the game: Why not give it to senior linebacker Kentrell Brothers again? He recorded team highs of 12 tackles and 2 1/2 tackles for a loss with a pass breakup. Brothers’ 152 tackles are fourth in a single season for MU.

Reason to hope: It’s hard to imagine a worse offense in 2016, so there’s nowhere to go but up for the Tigers. Missouri’s defense graduates only three starters and should get tackles Harold Brantley and Terry Beckner Jr. back into the fold.

Reason to mope: Coach Gary Pinkel went 118-73 in 15 seasons with Missouri. He is the program’s career leader in wins and boasts five divisional titles since 2007. Finding a worthy successor to build on that won’t be easy.

Looking ahead: Missouri must identify a new head, sort out the remaining staff and fill any vacancies created during the transition while also recruiting players for the 2016 signing class and persuading current players to stick around.

Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Game report: Arkansas 28, Missouri 3."