(Columbia, MO) The Missouri Tigers dominated all aspects of the season opener against the Murray State Racers winning 51-0. Missouri had punched it into the end zone three times in the first 5:30 of the game.
The bad bounces for Murray State began when they tried to surprise No. 11-MIZZOU with an onside kick at the start of the game. The Tigers recovered and scored four minutes, in real time, after the kick. Brady Cook found Luther Burden III.
Just five minutes later, again in real time, the Racers went for it on fourth-and-short and were stopped on their own 35 yard line. This time it took just three minutes, in real time, for Nate Noel to collect his first rushing touchdown of the year from nine yards out.
And again five minutes of real time passes between Missouri’s second and third touchdowns. This time cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. picked off a pass for a pick six. Tigers up 21-0 with 9:41 left in the first quarter.
MIZZOU added another first quarter touchdown, and one in the second quarter to lead at the break 35-0.
Starting QB Cook played two-and-a-half quarters Thursday night completing 19-of-30 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. Burden III had three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. Place kicker Blake Craig was a perfect 6-of-6 on extra point tries, and 3-for-3 on field goal tries in the win.
Missouri (1-0) host Buffalo Saturday, September 7 at 6:00pm.