MISSOURI-ILLINOIS POST-GAME NOTES

Aug. 30, 2003

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The Tigers are now 71-38-4 in season-openers, and have won six of their last seven. Along with last season's 33-20 win over Illinois, MU now has consecutive season-opening wins away from home for the first time since 1975-76 (at No. 2 Alabama 20-7, at No. 8 USC 46-25).

Five Tigers made their first career starts: RS freshman DE Brian Smith, junior DE Zach Ville, RS freshman CB Dedrick Harrington, junior SS Nino Williams, and sophomore FS Calvin Washington.

Two other players made their first starts at their new positions. Junior DT Atiyyah Ellison moved from DE, and senior LB Brandon Barnes moved from safety.

The Tigers won when their opponents scored first for the first time since the Ball State game last year.

Mizzou's 14-6 lead at halftime marked the second time in the last three games (at Texas A&M last year) that the Tigers kept their opponents out of the end zone in the first 30 minutes.

Senior TB Zack Abron scored his 29th career touchdown - and 27th on the ground - with a 1-yard scamper on fourth down near the end of the first quarter. Abron now has 174 points for his career, which ties him with former Tiger All-American Devin West (1995-98) for sixth place on MU's career list.

With his 60 yards on Saturday, Abron now has 2,103 for his career, moving him past Tommie Stowers (1986-89) for seventh place on MU's all-time rushing yardage list. Next on the list for Abron is the 2,244 amassed by Joe Moore from 1968-70.

Abron's streak of 183 carries without a fumble - dating back to last year's Illinois game - came to an end in the third quarter, yet unlike last year, the Tigers recovered the miscue.

Sophomore QB Brad Smith added two more touchdown passes on Saturday, giving him 17 for his career. He also now has 2,435 passing yards, just 273 away from joining Mizzou's career top 10.

Ray Guy Award candidate Brock Harvey averaged 42.4 yards on seven punts, including three downed inside the Illini 20-yard line. His 63-yard punt in the first quarter is six yards shy of his career long, booted into the wind last year at Nebraska. Harvey averaged 42.5 yards per kick last year in earning Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press.

Sophomore LB Derrick Ming's third career tackle set up the Tigers' first score, when he tackled Illinois punter Matt Minnes at the 3-yard line in the first quarter. The stop was set up by senior CB Michael Harden's straight shot at Minnes on the punt-block attempt.

A season after giving up the fewest turnovers in the country, Mizzou won the turnover battle on Saturday by not committing any turnovers.

Sophomore TB Damien Nash lost a yard on his first career carry on Saturday.

Junior LB Henry Sweat tallied his first career sack after he brought down Jon Beutjer midway through the second quarter.

RS Freshman DE Brian Smith got his first career sack by taking Beutjer down at the end of the third.

Senior TE J.D. McCoy caught his second career touchdown pass late in the second quarter on a 14-yard reception from Brad Smith. His first career TD grab came at Iowa State last year on a throw from Justin Gage set up on a reverse.

Senior CB Terrence Curry made his first tackle since the 2000 season with a special-teams stop late in the second quarter. The 2003 co-captain has sat out the last two seasons recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in the spring of 2001.

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Players Mentioned

Dedrick Harrington

Brian Smith

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