Alabama’s Vinnie Sunseri controls the football after a pass intended for Missouri’s L’Damian Washington bounces out of his hands in the second quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri on October 13, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide outgained Mizzou 533-126 and gained 362 yards on the ground with six rushing touchdowns in a 42-10 final at Faurot Field. Eddie Lacy rushed for 178 yards and three scores and T.J. Yeldon added 144 yards and two scores.

Lacy and Yeldon each scored two touchdowns in the first 24:20 of the game before lightning delayed the game for 40 minutes. Lacy weaved and outran the Mizzou defense for a 73 yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. He later added a three yard score after Corbin Berkstresser’s pass to La’Damian Washington was picked off midfield. A blocked punt less than five minutes later led to Yeldon’s first score and the Tigers were down 21-0 with 1:42 to play in the first quarter. Yeldon added a second TD when he tiptoed down the sideline and reached for the endzone early in the second quarter. After the play was review and upheld, a flash of lightning overhead prompted play to be suspended.

Sheldon Richardson led Mizzou with 14 tackles.  He said speed is no different in the SEC than the Big 12 or any other conference.

AUDIO Richardson’s comments (2:30)

When the game resumed, Bama kicked the extra point, then gave up a 98 yard kickoff return to Marcus Murphy. It was his fourth kick/punt return for a touchdown this season, tying a Mizzou single season record.

Alabama’s C.J. Mosley (32) puts a hit Missouri quarterback Corbin Berkstresser in the first quarter at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri on October 13, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

A 41 yard field goal early in the third made it an 18 point game and the Tigers swung momentum in their favor as Alabama looked sloppy after the lightning break. Mizzou had one more chance to make the game interesting in the third.

On third and seven from the Bama 8 yard line, Berkstresser held the ball too long and got popped losing control of the ball. It was eventually recovered by Alabama at the Mizzou 49, which put a dent into the Tigers overall total yardage.

Berkstresser finished 12 of 29 with two interceptions, a fumble, three sacks and126 yards of passing offense.

AUDIO Berkstresser postgame (3:00)

Head coach Gary Pinkel said he’s done talking about injuries and inexperience. The team is no longer talking about those issues. He said Alabama may be the best team he has ever seen, but he said his team made too many mistakes. Missed tackles, droppped passes, turnovers, blocked punts.

The Tigers have two weeks to heal up and fix those problems before they look for their first SEC win on October 20, when Mizzou hosts Kentucky for homecoming.

AUDIO Gary Pinkel’s postgame comments (10:00)
 

Quick Stats MU UA
1st Downs 9 21
Plays – Total Yards 57-129 68-533
Passing 126 171
Rushing 3 362
Penatlies – Yards 2-9 7-62
3rd Down Conv. 2-15 2-9
4th Down Conv. 0-1 1-2
Kick Return Yards 4-139 2-38
Punt Return Yards 2-21 4-48
Punts – Avg. 8-37.8 4-38.0
Turnovers 2 2
Time of Possession 23:31 36:29