 COLUMBIA, MO - Things turned bad in a hurry for Miami Saturday as No. 24 (USA Today) Missouri unleashed a first half blitz to defeat the RedHawks 51-13 at Faurot Field.
Miami’s Zac Dysert completed a pass to Armand Robinson on the game’s first play from scrimmage, but Andrew Gachkar forced a fumble and teammate Carl Gettis ran 18 yards for a touchdown after recovering the loose ball. Grant Ressel’s PAT gave the hosts a 7-0 lead eight seconds into the game.
Another Miami turnover early in the second quarter nearly resulted in a second lightning quick score for the Missouri defense.
Eleven plays into a 41-yard drive, MU was at the Missouri 14 when Dysert got hit while attempting to pass. Michael Sam picked off the floating aerial and appeared to score. A Tigers penalty on the return negated the score, but Missouri cashed in four plays later when De’Vion Moore went into the end zone from seven yards out.
That gave Missouri a 28-0 lead with 9:59 still left in the second quarter. Kendial Lawrence’s 39-yard TD run and a Henry Josey 28-yard romp were the offense’s contributions during a 21-point Tiger run in the first quarter.
“We made too many mental errors early,” Miami Head Coach Michael Haywood said.
Miami finally put some points on the scoreboard with 6:28 left in the first half. Dysert’s 45-yard pass to Robinson moved the RedHawks to Missouri’s 26.Another completion to Tracy Woods picked up 15 yards and the Tigers were flagged for a roughing the passer penalty on the play.
That gave the RedHawks a first down at the Missouri five-yard line. However, MU was unable to advance the ball in three plays, and Trevor Cook came in to kick a 23-yard field goal.
The score left Miami trailing 28-3, and the RedHawks soon got another chance to do damage when they forced Missouri into its first punt of the afternoon on their next possession.
Miami actually made it to the Tigers 22-yard line, but Dysert was sacked and also drew an intentional grounding penalty. Cook got the call on 4th-and-16, but his field goal attempt was wide right.
Missouri nearly made it on the board again with a 10-play, 61 yard drive on its next possession, but Pat Hinkel intercepted in the end zone for the RedHawks.
By halftime, Miami not only was losing by over three touchdowns, it was also losing players. Ryan Kennedy and Jordan Gafford exited with injuries. Senior running back Thomas Merriweather joined the duo, and Dysert went to the sidelines after taking a hard hit during the second half. All four are key players who the RedHawks could certainly use as they get ready for their Mid-American Conference opener at home next week against Kent State.
Tigers quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s 33-yard TD pass to Wes Kemp on the first drive of the second half opened the floodgates for 23 Mizzou points during the third quarter.
Cook, who registered his first field goal miss of 2010 late in the first half, split the uprights with a 40-yarder at 3:16 of the third stanza. It was the senior’s seventh field goal this year.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Boucher, meanwhile, recorded his first touchdown pass and provided the game’s final score when he found Jamal Rodgers on a 12-yard TD pass with 1:40 remaining.
Boucher connected on 5-of-7 for 68 yards and one TD in a relief role. Dysert, playing three quarters of the contest, completed 20-of-27 for 178 yards with the one interception when he was hit while throwing.
Armand Robinson paced the RedHawks receivers with 10 catches for 99 yards.
Although the visitors passing game showed some life, Miami managed a very pedestrian 70 rushing yards on 34 carries for a 2.1 ypc. average.
Missouri, meanwhile, averaged 6.2 yards per carry while totaling 236 yards on the ground. Kendial Lawrence (63 yards, 6 rushes, 10.5 ypc) and Henry Josey 54 yards, 8 rushes, 6.8 ypc) led the way.
Gabbert completed 15-of-21 for 187 yards with one TD and one interception as the Tigers added 233 yards through the air. Sophomore T.J. Moe led the receiving corps with seven catches for 95 yards.
With the win, Missouri completed its fifth straight season without a loss on its non-conference schedule. The Tigers, who received a scare in a 27-24 win over San Diego State one week earlier, now have a week off before opening their Big 12 schedule at home against Colorado.
Miami, which fell to 2-2 on the campaign, could use a week off to recover from injuries. Instead, the RedHawks return to Oxford for a tough MAC East conference game against Kent State.
“We have to have a much better week this week,” Haywood said of upcoming preparations. “We have to play a much better game as a complete football team. … When guys go down, we have to step in and start producing.”
NOTES:
- Miami had three turnovers in the game, and Missouri turned all three into points. Two of the turnovers were fumbles, while the one interception came with Miami driving deep in Missouri territory.
- The RedHawks have struggled scoring TDs in the redzone against Florida and Missouri, but were better in games against Colorado State and Eastern Michigan. Overall, MU scored on 85 percent of its trips into the redzone, but registered TDs only 38 percent of the time (5-for-13).
- Miami fumbled five times against Missouri, losing two.
- Both Miami and Missouri were heavily penalized. The RedHawks drew seven flags for 67 yards. Mizzou was flagged nine times for 91 yards.
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