Missouri Tiger fans take to the field as the last second ticks away for a win over Oklahoma, 36-27 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri on October 23, 2010. The win was the first for Missouri over Oklahoma since 1998. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

A statement was made. For all of those Tiger fans who hoped their team would just keep it close…For the doubters who never thought it was possible…I’ll say it again. This Missouri Tiger football team is for real. The defense bent, but didn’t break and while the offense may have missed opportunities to put the game away early, Mizzou kept fighting and this time never wilted under the pressure in a 36-27 win over the Oklahoma Sooners.

In fact, it would be fair to say that it was Oklahoma who felt the pressure. While the Sooners racked up 301 yards in the first half, they turned the ball over in the red zone, and couldn’t finish drives or make plays when it mattered. Meanwhile the Tigers defense made adjustments and steadied in the second half to hold OU to just 101 yards of total offense in the second half.

Gary Pinkel post game press conference

The Tigers offense turned the ball over a couple of times, and settled for field goals twice when they had first and goal, but they never wavered and when they needed to, they made the plays and just enough of them to defeated the number one rated BCS team in the country.

1st quarter highlights

Gahn McGaffie returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown after OU attempted a squib kick with a strong wind behind their backs. The MU defense then held the Sooners to a three and out, capped by Kevin Rutland’s three yard sack for Mizzou’s 21st of the year which leads the Big 12.

However, Carl Gettis muffed a bad punt that he tried to run up and catch and gave OU the ball at the Tiger 45. Landry Jones drove the Sooners down the field in four plays connecting with Kenny Stills for a 27 yards touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7 with less than two and half minutes played in the game.

Late in the quarter, OU was having success at quick snapping the ball before the Tigers could set on defense. If DeMarco Murray doesn’t trip over the 10 yards line, he’s in for another OU touchdown. On the next play, Aldon Smith picked off Jones’ attempted screen pass and returned it to the OU 28.

First quarter score 7-7.

2nd quarter highlights

The Tigers took advantage of the turnover going six plays, 28 yards, ending it with a one yard run from De’Vion Moore to go up 14-7, just 29 seconds into the second quarter. 14-7 Tigers.

Mizzou forced another red zone turnover. There is a reason the Tigers are the best defense in the country inside their own 20. Michael Sam forced a turnover, stripping Mossis Madu and Jasper Simmons recovered it at the MU 12.

After a holding call and a sack, the Sooners were forced with a third and long from their 11 yard line. Jones found Ryan Broyles on a 31 yard pass over the middle for a first down. The Sooners rattled off a 14 yard drive, capping it with a four yard screen pass to DeMarco Murray. With 4:08 to play in the first half, the score is tied.

The Tigers were faced with a third and 13 from the OU 37 after a bad snap and Gabbert found Jerrell Jackson on a slant play for 25 yards. A holding call backed Mizzou up to the 19, and Mizzou got a 36 yard field goal from Grant Ressel to take a 17-14 lead into the half.

3rd quarter highlights

After holding OU to a three and out, Michael Egnew was stripped of a first down pass completion on third and long at the MU 42. The ball flew in the air and was recovered by OU at the Mizzou 22, but the Tigers defense held and Jimmy Stevens missed a chip shot field goal early in the quarter.

The Tigers drove 68 yards in 12 plays and had to settle for a 30 yard field goal from Ressel after the Tigers had first and goal from the 10, but got backed up to the 18.

On their ensuing possession, the Sooners drove right down the field scoring the go ahead touchdown with 2:48 to play in the third. OU up 21-20.

After a holding penalty, Gabbert found Wes Kemp for a 35 yard completion.

4th quarter highlights

Mizzou continued the drive and scored when Jerrell Jackson bounced off cornerback Jonathan Nelson who tried to knock Jackson over instead of tackling him, Jackson sprinted in for a 38 yard touchdown run. Two point conversion failed and Mizzou goes up 26-21.

Xavier Gooden comes up with an interception on a short pass in the flat giving the Tigers the ball at the OU 22. The Tigers would kick a 23 yard field goal to go up by 8 with 9:44 to play.

The Tigers then looked like they iced the game on a five play 76 yard drive that was capped by a run from backup QB James Franklin making it a 36-21 game.

On the ensuing kickoff, after it was fumbled, OU ran the ball back to the Tiger 15 yard line and with just over six minute to play, OU cut the lead to 36-27, but missed the two point conversion and would never get closer.