April 8, 2000
COLUMBIA, Mo - The Missouri offense showed a lot of improvement since the last scrimmage two weeks ago when it was unable to put the ball in the end zone. On Saturday, things were different, as the Tigers "O" scored five times, three of them through the air.
On the second drive of the morning, sophomore Kirk Farmer (10-of-27, 84 yards, 3 TD) led the Tigers on an eight play, 65-yard scoring drive. Farmer hit Travis Garvin for a four-yard TD pass for the score.
Farmer's group struck again on their next series. On the very first play, Farmer hit Justin Gage on a swing pass. Gage in turn tossed a pass on the run connecting with Garvin who was wide open for a 65-yard touchdown. It was Gage's first live scrimmage since moving to wide receiver on Monday. He also caught three passes for 43 yards, including a 34-yard reception from Jim Dougherty on the very next drive.
Farmer led the Tigers on another scoring drive of 39 yards following a fumble recovery by Julian Jones. The drive was capped off when Farmer hit Brandon Barnes for a six-yard TD pass.
Dougherty had his moments as well, throwing for 149 yards while completing 15-of-22 passes. Mizzou scored twice under the direction of Dougherty. The first was a 40-yard run on a reverse hand-off to Barnes. Barnes caught the corner and used a tremendous block by Zack Abron to motor down the left sideline for the touchdown.
Two series later, Abron pulled off the play of the day, taking a hand-off from Dougherty and bulldozed his way 59 yards down the field for a touchdown. Abron carried the ball 19 times for 152 yards on the day.
The lone defensive score came when Daryl Whittington blocked an Alexander St. Peter punt attempt. John McPherson, who had already intercepted a pass in the scrimmage, scooped the ball up and ran 49 yards for the touchdown.
The Tiger defense recorded ten sacks on the day, led by all-America candidate Justin Smith and all-conference linebacker Jamonte Robinson. Both players recorded three sacks a piece while Michael Gavins added two sacks and one pass break-up.
SCRIMMAGE STATS
RUSHING: Abron 19-152, Gilmore 12-47, Davis 10-24, Barnes 2-41, Garvin 2-29, M. Harden 1-10, Schauffler 3-4, Gage 1-0, Outlaw 2-(-5), Jost 1-(-8),Dougherty 3-(-16), Farmer 5-(-28).
PASSING: Dougherty 15-22-149, Farmer 10-27-84, Outlaw 3-4-14, Jost 0-2-0.
RECEIVING: Garvin 4-76, Bloomquist 6-48, Barnes 4-45, Gage 3-43, Chirumbolo 1-26, Barnes 3-17, Ford 1-17, Baldwin 4-16, Dausman 2-15, M. Harden 1-8.
QB SACKS: Smith 3, Robinson 3, Gavins 2, McAboy, Whittington.
OTHER TACKLES FOR LOSS:: Smith 1-5, Earthly 1-4, McAboy 1-1, Robinson 1-5, Brown 1-1.
INTERCEPTIONS: McPherson 1-37. FUMBLE RECOVERY: J.Jones, Mingucci BLOCKED PUNT: Whittington PUNTING: Gilpin: 4 punts, 37.5 avg., St. Peter: 3 punts, 31.3 avg. FIELD GOALS: none, St. Peter: 0-2 (missed from 50, 45).