It was a date circled on the calendars of many University of Missouri fans – October 6th. It was a game they had looked forward to since the Tigers’ schedule was released – Mizzou versus Nebraska in a key Big 12 North clash. It was the outcome most of the 70,049 in attendance at Faurot Field had hoped for – Missouri 41, Nebraska 6. In short, Mizzou kicked the Huskers where the corn don’t grow!
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Quarterback Chase Daniel scored on a 1 yard run to cap an opening drive that covered 80 yards in 12 plays in 4:45. Jeff Wolfert’s extra point made it Missouri 7, Nebraska 0.
It was 3 and out for the Cornhuskers in their first possession. Missouri started its second series from the Tiger 21 and drove 79 yards downfield in 10 plays to score a second major. Chase Coffman’s 6 yard pass to Chase Daniel capped the scoring drive. Wolfert’s PAT made it Missouri 14, Nebraska 0.
Nebraska scored on its next possession on a 26 yard field goal by Alex Henery to cap a 10 play, 53 yard drive. Missouri 14, Nebraska 3. That’s how the 1st quarter ended.
Missouri scored its first points of the second quarter on a Jeff Wolfert 23-yard field goal to put the finishing touches on 12 play, 75 yard scoring drive. That made it Mizzou 17, Nebraska 3.
The Cornhuskers were forced to settle for 3 on their next possession, as Henery split the uprights with a 39 yard field goal to cap a 14 play, 54 yard drive that took the game clock to under 2:00. The field goal cut Missouri’s lead to 17-6.
Mizzou struck once more before the close of the 2nd quarter on a Jeff Wolfert field goal from 33 yards out to put an end to a 10 play, 55 yard drive. The first half ended with Missouri on top 20-6.
Nebraska started the 2nd half with the ball, but was forced to kick it away, giving the ball to Missouri at its 36 yard line. Chase Daniel then marched the Tigers down the field, capping a 6 play, 64 yard drive with a 3 yard touchdown run. Wolfert’s extra point put the Tigers on top 27-6.
The Husker hearts were broken on Nebraska’s next possession. What started out as promising drive ended abruptly when Pig Brown picked off a Sam Keller pass to give the Tigers the ball at their own 21 yard line. And, it didn’t take long for the Tigers to capitalize as Chase Daniel fired a 48 yard TD pass to Danario Alexander to cap a 6 play, 79 yard drive in only 1:38, giving Mizzou a 34-6 lead.
Husker hearts were broken again as a Nebraska drive stalled on the Missouri 33 yard line as the Cornhuskers failed to convert on a 4th and 1. Mizzou took over with 2:42 to play in the 3rd quarter.
Mizzou failed to score again in the 3rd, but made up for it by putting 7 more points on the board just over 2 minutes into the 4th quarter. And, the did it with a bit of trickery. Mizzou capped a 12 play, 67 yard scoring drive on a Tommy Saunders’ shovel pass to Martin Rucker for a 12 yard TD run on a fake field goal. Wolfert’s PAT made it Missouri 41, Nebraska 6. That’s how the game would end.
Missouri put forward a tremendous offensive showing, rolling up 606 total yards of offense, more than double Nebraska’s 297. Individually, Chase Daniel turned heads on the ground and in the air. He rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries, leading all Mizzou ball carriers, scoring 2 touchdowns. In the passing department, Daniel was 33 for 47 for 401 yards and 2 TDs. Martin Rucker caught 9 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. Chase Coffman caught 6 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers play their second Big 12 match up of the season next Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma, as they take on the Oklahoma Sooners, who are coming off a huge win over the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rumble.
