MIZZOU DOMINATES TAR HEELS AS THEY HEAD TO THE SEC
In their last football game as a Big-12 team, the Missouri Tigers went out in style, pounding North Carolina 41-24 in an Independence Bowl game that wasn't nearly as close as the score would indicate. My prediction of a North Carolina team unfocused with a coaching staff in disarray appears to have been right on the money. The 14th ranked run defense in the nation, allowing just 106-yards per game, was run over, around & thru for a staggering 337-yards by the Missouri Tigers. Like I thought, the coaching staff was too slow making adjustments. Mizzou ran for 192-yards in the first half & 145 in the second. Their 7.3-yards per carry was over 2-yards more than any UNC opponent this season.
For all the NFL-caliber talent UNC brought to Shreveport, they weren't the least bit motivated & made almost zero impact. WR Dwight Jones caught a touchdown pass, but also dropped 4 passes. DE Quinton Coples made two tackles & virtually disappeared after the 1st quarter. After Jones caught a touchdown just 2:48 into the game, Mizzou scored 31-unanswered first half points. Like I said, this game was never in doubt after Mizzou went ahead 14-7.
I mentioned the Tar Heels had a poor showing against Tajh Boyd & Logan Thomas, dual-threat QB's, that trend continued tonight as the Tigers' James Franklin went 15 of 23 passing for 132-yards & a touchdown plus 142-yards rushing & two scores. The sophomore QB was named the games' MVP. RB Kendial Lawrence chipped in with 112-yards & a TD on 16 carries.
Wide receiver T.J. Moe, Mizzou's leading receiver going into the Independence Bowl, didn't catch a pass but he threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Wes Kemp on an end-around, ran for 10-yards & returned 3 kickoffs for 97-yards. Senior tight end Andrew Jones, who is playing on the #8 ranked undefeated Tiger basketball team, went into the game in the closing minutes & caught a pass, creating some real excitement on the sidelines & in the stands.
The Tigers also saved their finest defensive effort for their bowl game. Yes, they surrendered 317-yards passing & 3 scores, but the run defense was awesome. They held UNC RB Giovani Bernard to 31-yards on 13 carries. That was 75-yards under his season average. The Tar Heels totaled just 36-yards rushing. The defense also forced a fumble & an interception.
Mizzou was awarded the backup Independence Bowl trophy after Mizzou mascot, Truman the Tiger dropped it in pregame ceremonies & broke the crystal portion of it. He did get quite a workout tonight with a pushup for every point after each score.
What's left of the crystal portion of the trophy after Truman the Tiger dropped it.
Now it's onto the Southeastern Conference. The schedule isn't known yet, but it has leaked out Georgia will play at Columbia on September 8th, their first SEC game. What do the Tigers take into their new league? On defense DL's Sheldon Richardson, Michael Sam & Brad Madison return, linebackers Zavier Gooden & Andrew Wilson(bowl defensive MVP) & corner E.J. Gaines. on the offensive side, the cupboard is hardly bare with QB Franklin returning along with RB Kendial Lawrence & injured Henry Josey, the Big-12's leading rusher. Wide receivers T.J. Moe, L'Damien Washington & Marcus Lucas, 3 of the top-5 receivers, return. Starting offensive linemen Travis Ruth & Justin Britt are back & will be joined by the top offensive guard prospect in the nation, Evan Boehm of Lee's Summit West H.S. Kicker Trey Barrow will be back & the Tigers are still in the running for the player Rivals.com ranks as the best high school player in the nation, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Moving to the SEC with an established QB is vital for the Tigers. It sure was fun watching them smoke the Tar Heels so handily. let's hope Franklin & company continue their rapid improvement.
For all the NFL-caliber talent UNC brought to Shreveport, they weren't the least bit motivated & made almost zero impact. WR Dwight Jones caught a touchdown pass, but also dropped 4 passes. DE Quinton Coples made two tackles & virtually disappeared after the 1st quarter. After Jones caught a touchdown just 2:48 into the game, Mizzou scored 31-unanswered first half points. Like I said, this game was never in doubt after Mizzou went ahead 14-7.
I mentioned the Tar Heels had a poor showing against Tajh Boyd & Logan Thomas, dual-threat QB's, that trend continued tonight as the Tigers' James Franklin went 15 of 23 passing for 132-yards & a touchdown plus 142-yards rushing & two scores. The sophomore QB was named the games' MVP. RB Kendial Lawrence chipped in with 112-yards & a TD on 16 carries.
Wide receiver T.J. Moe, Mizzou's leading receiver going into the Independence Bowl, didn't catch a pass but he threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Wes Kemp on an end-around, ran for 10-yards & returned 3 kickoffs for 97-yards. Senior tight end Andrew Jones, who is playing on the #8 ranked undefeated Tiger basketball team, went into the game in the closing minutes & caught a pass, creating some real excitement on the sidelines & in the stands.
The Tigers also saved their finest defensive effort for their bowl game. Yes, they surrendered 317-yards passing & 3 scores, but the run defense was awesome. They held UNC RB Giovani Bernard to 31-yards on 13 carries. That was 75-yards under his season average. The Tar Heels totaled just 36-yards rushing. The defense also forced a fumble & an interception.
Mizzou was awarded the backup Independence Bowl trophy after Mizzou mascot, Truman the Tiger dropped it in pregame ceremonies & broke the crystal portion of it. He did get quite a workout tonight with a pushup for every point after each score.
What's left of the crystal portion of the trophy after Truman the Tiger dropped it.
Now it's onto the Southeastern Conference. The schedule isn't known yet, but it has leaked out Georgia will play at Columbia on September 8th, their first SEC game. What do the Tigers take into their new league? On defense DL's Sheldon Richardson, Michael Sam & Brad Madison return, linebackers Zavier Gooden & Andrew Wilson(bowl defensive MVP) & corner E.J. Gaines. on the offensive side, the cupboard is hardly bare with QB Franklin returning along with RB Kendial Lawrence & injured Henry Josey, the Big-12's leading rusher. Wide receivers T.J. Moe, L'Damien Washington & Marcus Lucas, 3 of the top-5 receivers, return. Starting offensive linemen Travis Ruth & Justin Britt are back & will be joined by the top offensive guard prospect in the nation, Evan Boehm of Lee's Summit West H.S. Kicker Trey Barrow will be back & the Tigers are still in the running for the player Rivals.com ranks as the best high school player in the nation, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Moving to the SEC with an established QB is vital for the Tigers. It sure was fun watching them smoke the Tar Heels so handily. let's hope Franklin & company continue their rapid improvement.
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