Tigers in Prime Position for a Repeat
Back To SEC
By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com
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The Missouri Tigers, still underrated by most, are currently the lone one-loss team on their side.
~Gary Pinkel
In some ways, it’s been a disappointing year for Missouri. Back in September, the defending SEC East champions lost at home to Indiana; the Hoosiers fell to Bowling Green the week prior. With nationally-ranked Georgia in town for the biggest home game of the season, Missouri turned the ball over five times, did not convert a third down and was shutout, losing 34-0, for the first time since 2002.
The Tigers rank last in the SEC in passing, 13th in total offense and are the league’s most penalized team. Missouri, above all else, however, stands alone in first place in the only category that matters: the division standings.
With three games left on the schedule and the Tigers entering the rally to the finish at 4-1 in conference play, they can make a return trip to the SEC Championship Game with wins over Texas A&M, Tennessee and Arkansas. If the Bulldogs were to lose to either Kentucky or Auburn, Missouri could still drop one and advance. The Tigers, still underrated by most, are currently the lone one-loss team on their side.
Missouri has won games with a time-tested formula: defense, special teams and a determined persistence.
The Tigers are allowing 19 points per game and have held their last three opponents to two touchdowns or less. After finishing in the top five nationally in sacks last season, Missouri is tied for the league lead with 29 this fall; Shane Ray enters game ten with 10.5. Thanks to the dynamic Marcus Murphy, MU is one of just three SEC teams to have scored via both punt and kick returns this year.
Two games, in particular, have typified 2014 for the Tigers. Playing on the road at then-13th ranked South Carolina, Missouri scored 14 points in the game’s final 6:49 to escape Williams-Brice Stadium with a 21-20 victory. The Tigers converted the go-ahead score on a late 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Missouri then forced four straight incompletions to seal the win.
cWe sat down as group and told ourselves that we had to finish. Thats what we do at Mizzou,” quarterback Maty Mauk explained.
Three weeks later at Florida, the Tigers held a 42-0 late third quarter lead in a game where they finished with just seven first downs and 119 total yards. Despite the offensive struggles, Missouri scored on a 96-yard Murphy kickoff return, a 82-yard Murphy punt return, a 21-yard Markus Golden fumble return and a 46-yard Darvin Ruise interception return. Playing in one of the toughest venues in the country, the Tigers had 20 passing yards, 74 penalty yards and won by 29.
“First of all, I am really proud of our football team for bouncing back after a very difficult loss a week ago at a very difficult place to play,” head coach Gary Pinkel stated. “You are just proud of your players and your staff for how hard they work and the mental toughness that it takes to do that and the grit.”
At 8-1 in its last nine regular season conference games, Missouri has a bye this weekend before the stretch run. Though they aren’t yet ranked and arguably haven’t played their best football yet, the Tigers, with sights set on Atlanta, are right where they want to be.
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