Missouri Stuns Texas Tech in 41-10 Blowout.
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by Donatevo
Saturday’s football game between the visiting Texas Tech Red Raiders, and the Missouri Tigers, was billed as a shootout. It was to be a battle between the #1 ranked offense of Texas Tech, and the #5 ranked offense of Missouri. A duel between Tech’s Graham Harrell, who came into the game leading the nation in passing and total offense, and Mizzou’s Chase Daniel, coming in at #6 in total offense. The game was to be highlighted by huge catches from the nation’s leading receiver, Tech’s freshman sensation Michael Crabtree, who on the day broke the NCAA record for receiving by a freshman. Crabtree did pull down 10 catches on the day, but for only 76 yards, more than 100 yards below his average. He came into the game averaging 177.7 yards per game.
But Missouri’s defense, which came into the game giving up an average of 24.5 points per game, spoiled the script, and Missouri walked away with a dominating 41-10 victory. Graham Harrell was harassed all day by Missouri defenders, who sacked him twice, and intercepted him 4 times, the first, a deflection, corralled by Mizzou’s Stryker Sulak, who returned it 38 yards for a touchdown, and the first score of the game. Harrell was held to 397 yards, more than 150 yards less than his average, on 44 of 69 passing, with one TD. The touchdown came with 6:39 left in the half, on a beautiful 68 yard strike to a wide open Edward Britton. Tech’s only other points could have been prevented.. With 4:59 remaining in the half, Tech drove the ball from their own 30 to the Missouri 25, before Harrell was intercepted for the second time of the game, by MU’s Pig Brown. But Brown promptly squirted the ball directly into the waiting hands of Tech’s Danny Amendola. 8 plays and 45 yards later, Tech completed their scoring on the day with an Alex Trlica 45 yard field goal. Amendola, by the way, led Tech receivers with 11 catches for 94 yards.
Missouri’s offense was less pass happy, but more balanced than usual. Daniel was 14 of 19 for 210 yards and one TD, and the Tigers rushed for 212 yards on 50 carries, with three touchdowns. All three rushing scores came on short runs by Jimmy Jackson, who had 59 yards on 12 carries. Derrick Washington added another 66 yards on 9 carries. TE Chase Coffman caught 3 balls for 53 yards, with a long of 33 yards, and TE Martin Rucker pitched in with three grabs for 51 yards, including a long of 25. But the Tiger’s leading receiver on the day was freshman phenom Jeremy Macklin, who caught two passes for 64 yards. Macklin, who entered the day 4th in the nation in all purpose yards, was held out of his kick return duties, after hurting his shoulder early in the first quarter. This didn’t stop him from pulling down Missouri’s best play of the day, a 57 yard touchdown reception with 9:36 left in the game. A couple field goals by Jeff Wolfort rounded out the scoring for MU. One with 2:12 left in the first to make it 10-0 Mizzou, and one with 4:40 left in the game to set the score at 41-10 MU.
This game knocked Texas Tech out of the AP poll, where they had been 25, while Mizzou climbed a couple notches, from 15 to 13.
