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Columbia Daily Tribune
Here’s how we graded Missouri football in comfortable win against overmatched UMass
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Here’s how we graded Missouri football in comfortable win against overmatched UMass
Job done.
Missouri football defeated UMass 45-3 on Saturday in Amherst, Massachusetts, in a game that the Tigers were widely expected to win. Eli Drinkwitz's team, coming off a shoddy loss at Texas A&M , responded well against a far overmatched opponent.
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Mizzou (5-1, 1-1 SEC) took a 21-point lead into the half and then doubled that in a breakaway third quarter.
Here's how we graded Missouri football in its comfortable win in New England:
Offense: A-
The gameplan was pretty obvious early: Run the ball, and run it often.
The Tigers hammered the Minutemen on the ground to build an essentially unassailable early lead. Marcus Carroll and Jamal Roberts traded early handoffs successfully. Luther Burden III took the second offensive snap of the game 61 yards to the end-zone on an end around.
Carroll had touchdown runs from 3, 4 and 35 yards. By the time Missouri opened up a four-touchdown lead in the third quarter, the Tigers had run the ball 25 times and passed 11 times.
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Brady Cook made the most of some early designed runs, and when the Tigers turned to the pass he was efficient. The quarterback finished the day 14-of-19 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, including a dump off to Joshua Manning that went 63 yards for a touchdown and an 8-yard pass that followed a 36-yard setup up the seam, both to tight end Brett Norfleet .
The starters left the game at the end of the third quarter with the score 45-3. Burden left the game in the third quarter after taking a big hit to his left shoulder, but Drinkwitz said on the ESPN2 broadcast that the star receiver will be "fine."
Oct 12, 2024; Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Marcus Carroll (9) dives for a touchdown against the Massachusetts Minutemen during the first half at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Defense: A-
Linebacker Corey Flagg played hero, intercepting UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh on third-and-goal with seconds remaining in the first half and returned it 80 yards into the opposite end zone. That turned what could have possibly been an 11-point game at the half to a 21-point game.
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Missouri's defense had some issues defending Phomachanh and wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James in the first half, as the receiver broke free on a fair few first-half possessions.
The Tigers did put the clamps on UMass' offense after the half, holding the Minutemen to 46 yards of offense across the third quarter.
Special teams: C-
The only thing that was missing was a sign on the Massachusetts sideline that said, "this is our fake punt play."
UMass lined up to 'punt' on fourth-and-1 near the end of the first half in about as obvious a fake situation as you're ever likely to see. Missouri was not prepared, and it Te'Rai Powell took the snap 39 yards into scoring territory. Flagg played savior a few plays later with a pick.
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Marquis Johnson dropped a kickoff return in the first half and was tackled inside the 15.
Blake Craig's perfect day kicking, including a 42-yarder to end the half, get Missouri some bonus points here. Luke Bauer dropped two of his three punts inside the 20.
Coaches: A-
The offensive game plan to prioritize the run was the right one. That is more and more clearly becoming Missouri's most effective outlet to hurt opposing defenses, and Saturday's game was perhaps an indication of what to expect in the second half of the season.
Missouri did not look like a team that was taking its overmatched opponent for granted, and kept the foot on the gas deep into the second half. That's a positive response after a woeful week in Texas.
Oct 12, 2024; Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) runs the ball ball against the Massachusetts Minutemen during the first half at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Overall: B+
The Tigers did what they needed to do in New England. The offense was efficient for most of the day and took the chunk-play chances when they came. The defense came up clutch in dangerous situations and tightened up after the half.
Onto Auburn next Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Grading Missouri football after defeating UMass on the road
