Heads to Arkansas State next
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by Benjamin Herrold
Missouri kicked off its season last Saturday with a 34-3 win over Southeast Missouri State University at Faurot Field. On a hot early September afternoon in Columbia, beginning the 90th season for the Tigers at Faurot, No. 24 Missouri jumped ahead early with two first quarter touchdowns from Maty Mauk to J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown.
But after that, the game slumped into a series of kicks, both punts and field goals. Missouri’s lead was still just 20-3 into the final minute of the third quarter, when Kentrell Brothers blocked a SEMO punt and Aarion Penton returned it for a touchdown.
That wild play put a jolt into the crowd of 64,670, as did the debut of freshman backup quarterback Drew Lock. Coach Gary Pinkel decided not to redshirt the freshman even though Mauk is just a junior, due to how well Lock played in preseason practice and scrimmages. Lock led the Tigers to a field goal on the one drive he led in the second quarter, and then he saw more action in the fourth quarter, throwing a 78-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Hunt, a former walkon who has earned a scholarship.
Mauk is the starter for Missouri, but Lock provided a nice glimpse of the future on Saturday, and demonstrated the Tigers have some depth at quarterback, the game’s most important position.
This Saturday Missouri heads on the road to play Arkansas State (6 p.m., no TV, game can be watched online through ESPN 3).
The Red Wolves (0-1) opened their season with a loss at No. 8 USC, 55-6. That’s a rugged test to start the season, and the game was as close as 28-6 midway through the third quarter. But USC tacked on four touchdowns from their for the final margin.
Arkansas State has a senior quarterback, Fredi Knighten, who threw for 3,277 yards and rushed for 779 yards last year. Senior running back Michael Gordon was a 1,000-yard rusher last year. The Red Wolves have posted a winning record for four straight years and are a contender for the Sun Belt Conference title.
Still, Missouri should be able to handle Arkansas State. It is a road game and could be a very feisty atmosphere in Jonesboro, but Missouri is the better team.
Missouri has shown a willingness under Pinkel to play non-Power 5 conference teams on the road. Since a loss at Troy in 2004, Missouri has managed to notch road wins at New Mexico, Nevada, Central Florida and Toledo. The home crowds at non-Power 5 schools can be extra fired up when one of the “big boy” programs come to visit. Missouri, the two-time defending SEC East champions, fits the bill. Plenty of Tiger fans should make the relatively short trip down for the game, but Centennial Bank Stadium should be vocal in its support of the Red Wolves Saturday night.
Saturday will be a good early test of composure for Missouri, but the Tigers should get the win.
Editor’s note: Benjamin Herrold grew up in Daviess County and graduated from Gilman City High School. He then graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and now writes as the field editor for Missouri Farmer Today and is based in Columbia. He visits home frequently and owns a farm in Daviess County.