Beau Pribula manifested the moment.
Can you blame him? After a couple years playing backup in State College, he left Penn State in search of a shot. He landed at Missouri football with that opportunity. The Tigers quarterback competition officially ran into the season, but Pribula got the first crack at making an impression; making himself a starter.
And there went speedy wideout Marquis Johnson , half-a-field ahead of him and never getting any less open.
Dime, and a 49-yard, there's-your-deep-ball touchdown just five plays into his Tigers career.
"I'd say it's law of attraction," Pribula said. "Probably envisioned that a couple times before this game, really just imagining it and (doing) it physically."
Pribula was nearly immaculate as Mizzou ran over Central Arkansas, beating the Bears 61-6 in the Thursday night, Week 1 game on Faurot Field. The transfer, making his debut in the black and gold, accounted for four total touchdowns between his right arm and his rip-roaring legs, and scored on all of the six drives he took the field.
Missouri's QB competition seems settled, as Sam Horn — Pribula's primary challenger for QB1 duties — limped off the field injured after just one play , which came far earlier than expected in the second offensive series of the day. On the first play Pribula left the field, Horn took a designed run six yards before going to ground under contact — and staying down.
He was later pictured on crutches and in a full-leg cast. Drinkwitz did not have an official update postgame, but the early warning signs are concerning.
More: Sam Horn injury update: What Missouri football's Eli Drinkwitz said about QBs injury
We're under no illusions that, yes, this was Central Arkansas and, no, this game was never going to be more than a scrimmage with SEC Network cameras.
But you shouldn't mistake this, either: What Pribula did was worthy of being named starter.
Overmatched opponent or not. Injured competition or not.
Pribula made it perfectly clear that he is QB1.
We've all heard about Pribula's ability as a runner. Penn State gave him a series every Saturday because of how well he can tuck it and go. It took about a quarter-and-a-half to see it in full flow.
He ducked some pressure, comfortable to drop an additional 10 yards behind where he received a shotgun snap to get out of danger. Then came a pump-fake. He danced around another defender, turned on the afterburners and outlasted four players in pursuit to tumble across the goal line.
"I love running the football," Pribula said. "I pride myself on being not just a quarterback, but a football player."
Exactly what we'd been told to expect.
"I thought his ability to extend plays — I thought that one big-time run was pretty headsy (sic) there, and his ability to pull the ball on some zone read stuff was nice," Drinkwitz said. "But, I mean, he threw the ball really well too."
No kidding.
Pribula was 23-of-28 (82%) passing for 283 yards and two touchdowns before true freshman Matt Zollers entered the game late in the third quarter. The major preseason question and unknown about Pribula was whether or not he had the ability to run a full offense — to balance his blistering legs with a workable arm.
Johnson, leaving Week 1 with a career-high 134 yards that included two 40-plus yard receptions, can assure you the arm exists.
And it wasn't just the deep ball — although that's a nice weapon to have in the arsenal.
Pribula looked comfortable in just about every situation thrown at him, which is a positive development with one of the marquee games on the calendar up next, as Kansas comes to Columbia on Sept. 6.
He warded off early season issues from the O-line, which Drinkwitz evaluated as having a day that included some "good, bad and some things in between."
Pribula looked comfortable in tempo situations, navigating being backed up inside his own 1-yard line to lead a 15-play drive in the last 3:38 of the half. To prove his point, he led a second 99-yard touchdown — that one in seven plays and ending with a 1-yard QB run — to officially end his day.
And he navigated the situation with Horn's injury and the ensuing change of plans well, saying he "just kept rolling."
Horn's apparent injury probably keeps Drinkwitz from needing to have a difficult conversation — one he's indicated he was dreading.
Pribula won the job Thursday, if it wasn't already won.
More: Here's how we graded Missouri football after Week 1 runaway win over Central Arkansas
The backup quarterback situation has become tenuous, if Horn misses any significant time.
But QB1 has arrived. And he landed in CoMo with a bang.
"The buildup of this week, you know, is something I've been waiting for a long time, just an opportunity like this," Pribula said. "I was just extremely excited. A little jittery in the hotel, but once I got to this game, I was just really excited just to get out here and play with these guys. … It was a blessing to be out there today."
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Missouri's Beau Pribula earned QB1 status with Week 1 performance
