Mizzou took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Tony Temple capped off the drive that took 3:30 off the clock with a seven-yard scoring run. Temple evaded several would-be tacklers starting to his right before bouncing out the run to his left. It was the ninth time this year Mizzou scored in its opening possession of the game. The biggest play of the drive came on a 32-yard completion from Chase Daniel to tight end Chase Coffman. Daniel completed 4-of-6 passes on the drive for 55 yards.
Oregon State showed some resolve on its ensuing possession. As Missouri expected, the Beavers showed a steady dose of running back Yvenson Bernard. The Pac-10’s second leading rusher carried the ball four times for 20 yards constantly putting the Beavers in manageable third down situations. Quarterback Matt Moore had two passes batted down at the line of scrimmage, but was able to complete 4-of-7 for 44 yards. OSU drove 80 yards on their first possession as well, tying the game 7-7 on a 13-yard scoring strike from Moore to wide receiver Sammie Stroughter for his fifth touchdown reception of the year. The drive lasted 13 plays and took 4:23.
The Tigers were unable to get anything going on their next drive. Martin Rucker had a chance to make a big play, but came up short. Daniel spotted Rucker deep down the right sideline but Rucker was unable to haul in the catch as he had a step on the defender. Temple took a handoff up the middle for a short gain on second down. A high snap on the next play was fumbled and recovered by Daniel, and the Tigers were forced to punt.
Stroughter returned the punt to the Mizzou 40. Bernard gained a yard on the first play. He was able to find a little more daylight picking up the first down on the next play with a gain of nine. On first-and-10, Moore escaped some light pressure to hit Ruben Jackson for another first down. After two short runs by Bernard, OSU was faced with third-and-seven. Coming out of a timeout, Moore scrambled to his right before hitting Stroughter a yard short of the first down. OSU coach Mike Riley opted to go for it on fourth down handing it off the Bernard who picked up the first down before being tackled on the one-yard line. Moore sneaked the ball past the goal line for the Beavers second touchdown of the quarter and giving them a 14-7 lead. DRIVE SUMMARY: 8 plays, 40 yards, 4:53
Mizzou started their third possession of game at their own 20. Temple moved the chains for the Tigers with a 20-yard run on first down. It was the last play of the quarter.
