The Missouri Tigers started Big 12 conference play with a 26-0 win over the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night at Faurot Field. Defense and special teams came up big for Missouri as the offense showed some consistency at times, but also struggled to move the ball against a feisty CU defense. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert came out of the game in the fourth quarter with a right hip pointer.

Gary Pinkel postgame press conference

The Tigers outgained Colorado 345-311 with CU picking up 127 yards in the fourth quarter, but up until that point, Missouri was doing a good job of shutting down their offense.  It also helped that the Buffs got flagged for 8 penalties totalling 66 yards.

1st quarter highlights

On Mizzou’s first two possessions they were forced to punt and Matt Grabner angled his first punt out at the Colorado two yard line. On his second punt, Grabner put the ball inside the one. He’s done in every game so far this season. That must be a record, five games with at least one punt landing inside the one.

Cody Hanson, Colorado’s QB, got called for intentional grounding on first down which resulted in a safety. 2-0 Mizzou with 7:52 to play in the first quarter.

Special teams play continues to produce. Grant Ressel kicked a 47 yard field goal. The offense finally moved the ball, gaining 43 yards on a seven play drive. T.J. Moe with two catches on the drive. 5-0 Mizzou, 2:06 to play in the first quarter.

2nd quarter highlights

Trey Barrow ran 26 yards for a first down off a fake punt to give Mizzou and first down at the CU 30. On a 2nd and ten, Blaine Gabbert looked like he would take off and run as CU dropped eight into coverage, but stopped at the line and found Jerrell Jackson wide open at the goal line for an easy touchdown. 12-0 Mizzou, 10:40 to play in the half.

Blaine Gabbert was stripped of the ball and Colorado took over at the MU 19. A reverse by CU resulted in a loss of 8. On third and long, Mizzou’s D-line deflected a pass then Terrell Resonno blocked a 40 yard field goal attempt with six minutes to play in the half.

The Tigers put together a 15 play, 97 yard drive to score a touchdown in the final minute with Michael Egnew scoring on a ten yard pass. Mizzou up 19-0 with :58 to play in the first half.

Mizzou’s defense held Colorado to four first downs and just 87 total yards. Missouri’s rushing game suffered gaining just 56 yards on 17 carries.

3rd quarter highlights

No scoring. The Buffaloes made a quarterback change late in the third quarter replacing Tyler Hanson for Cody Hawkins.

4th quarter highlights

On a fourth and 12, Hawkins was sacked by Kip Edwards at the Mizzou 30 to kill another Colorado drive. Twice in the second half, Colorado attempted fourth down conversions and each time got called with penalties that moved them to long yardage situations.

James Franklin came in at quarterback and sparked the Tigers with a 34 yard run to give the Tigers a first and goal from the 10. Gabbert was out of the game after getting dinged up. Franklin threw a touchdown pass to Egnew to put the Tigers up 26-0 with 9:24 to play.

On a fourth and five from Missouri’s 28, Hawkins was picked off on a pass deflection by Kip Edwards who took it back to the Colorado 32 yard line.

Colorado had one more chance to break the shutout after a Franklin interception at CU’s 17, but Hawkins had a pass broken up in the end zone on third down from the 18 and a fourth down pass that went through the hands of a receiver at the back of the end zone.