Oxford, MS – The Missouri Tigers up their 2007 record to 2-0 with a 38-25 win over the Rebels of Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.

Mizzou had the best of the offense in the 1st quarter, gaining 126 offensive yards to 58 for the Rebels. But the period ended in a scoreless tie with the Tigers knocking at the Ole Miss door, with third and goal from the 10 yard line.

The game didn’t remain scoreless much longer. On the first play of the 2nd quarter, quarterback Chase Daniel fired a 10 yard strike to Will Franklin in the end zone to put Missouri up by 6. Jeff Wolfert converted to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. The TD capped a 10 play, 55 yard scoring drive.

Missouri struck again on its next possession. The Tigers capped a 7 play, 73 yard drive with a 40 yard Chase Daniel to Will Franklin touchdown pass, the second Daniel to Franklin major of the game. Wolfert’s extra point put Mizzou up 14-0 with 9:52 to play in the half.

Mississippi threatened on its next possession but the Rebels were stopped at at the 7 as a fumble was recovered by Pig Brown, ending the Ole Miss scoring threat cold. And, the Tigers wasted little time – only 1:54 – taking the ball downfield for their third touchdown of the game, a 40 yard pass from Daniel to Martin Rucker to cap a 6 play 93 yard drive. Wolfert’s PAT give Missouri a 21-0 lead.

The Rebels scored some much needed points prior to the end of the half, as Seth Adams fired a 5 yard pass to Shay Hodge with 1:09 remaining to cap a 9 play, 71 yard drive. Joshua Shene’s extra point made the score Mizzou 21, Ole Miss 7.

Mississippi’s happiness over its first major was short lived as Mizzou struck again before the end of the half. The Tigers took the ball down field in 57 seconds, scoring a touchdown to cap an 8 play, 54 yard drive that ended with Daniel tossing a 7 yard pass to Chase Coffman. Wolfert’s point after touchdown gave Missouri a 28-7 lead as the teams left the field at the end of the half.

Missouri’s scoring wasn’t over. The Tigers opened the 2nd half with a touchdown drive that covered 70 yards in only 3 plays, culminating on a 37 yard TD pass from Daniel to Greg Bracey. Wolfert’s conversion made it 35-7 for Mizzou.

The Rebels came storming back in a hurry to score their second major of the game. It was a 2 play, 75 yard touchdown drive that ended with a 68 yard Adams to Mike Wallace pass to make the score 35-13. A 2 point conversion attempt failed.

Mizzou responded with a scoring drive culminating in a Jeff Wolfert 26 yard field goal. It was a 58 yard drive in 11 plays.

The Rebels then came storming back with a scoring drive that covered 71 yards in 13 plays, ending with a 3 yard TD pass from Adams to Greg Hardy. A 2 point conversion attempt failed and Mizzou led 38-19.

A missed Missouri field goal attempt gave the Rebels an opportunity to draw closer, and the 3rd quarter ended with the Tigers up 38-19 but with the Rebels on the Mizzou 2 yard line. And, the Rebels scored on the first play of the 4th quarter on a 2 yard touchdown run by BenJarvis Green-Ellis, capping a 6 play, 75 yard drive to make the score Missouri 38, Ole Miss 25. A 2 point conversion attempt failed. That score with 14:56 to play in the 4th quarter would end the scoring for the night.

Total offense on the night was fairly close, with Mizzou running up 559 yards of total offense to 534 for Ole Miss. Chase Daniel completed 31 of 43 pass attempts for 330 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The Tigers now return home for a game with the Western Michigan Broncos next Saturday afternoon at Faurot Field in Columbia.

 

Download/Listen: Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel’s post game comments: (7:00 MP3)