A slow start, but a great finish for the Mizzou Tigers as they go to 4-0 on the season with a 31 to 21 win over the Nevada Wolfpack.
The Tigers would score first as an 11 play, 46 yard drive ends with a 22 yard field goal by Grant Ressel. Later in the first, Nevada would score a touchdown on a two yard run which ended a 13 play, 80 yard drive.
With just one minute left in the quarter, Tiger kicker Grant Ressel would hit another field goal. This time from 31 yards out, which made the score 7-6 at the end of one quarter.
In the second, Blaine Gabbert would hit Danario Alexander on a 31 yard touchdown pass. Mizzou would go for two, which failed, and would take the lead 12-7.
There would be no more scoring in the second quarter as both teams would exchange punts and the Tigers would take the lead into the locker room at halftime.
In the third quarter, Nevada would take the lead as quarterback Colin Kaepernick would score on an 11 yard touchdown run. Another failed two point conversion made the score 13 to 12 in favor of the Wolfpack.
Mizzou would answer back very quickly as Blaine Gabbert threw a 74 yard touchdown pass to Danario Alexander. The Tigers could not convert the two point conversion making the score 18 to 13.
About five minutes later, the Tigers would cap a 10 play, 70 yard drive with another field goal by Grant Ressel. This 27 yard kick would put the Tigers up 21-13 going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Nevada was driving the ball deep into Mizzou territory, but Tiger Brian Coulter would force a fumble on the three yard line, denying the score and giving the ball back to the Tigers. Gabbert would waste no time as he would lead the Tigers on an 11 play, 97 yard drive which ended with him throwing a four yard touchdown pass to Jared Perry. This time, Ressel would kick the extra point and the Tigers were up 28 to 13.
Mizzou would get the ball one more time in the fourth quarter, and Ressel would answer the call once again. This time he connected on a 26 yard field goal to put the Tigers up 31 to 13.
Nevada would not go down quietly as they would drive back down the field to get another touchdown and a two point conversion to cut the lead to 31-21.
But that would be all of the scoring as Mizzou would simply hold on to the ball to end the game.
Blaine Gabbert would finish the game completing 25 of 40 passes for 414 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Derrick Washington would carry the ball 16 times for 75 yards. A big game for Danario Alexander as he would catch nine balls for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Jared Perry also had a great game with eight catches for 72 yards and one touchdown.
The Missouri Tigers now have a week off as they get ready for their Big 12 opener the night of Thursday, October 8th at the Zou against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The nationally televised game will kick off just after 8:00.
