Mizzou-Eastern Illinois Game Notes

Sept. 13, 2003

With a 37-0 win over Eastern Illinois, Missouri is now 3-0 on the season for the first time since 1981. The 2003 team is the ninth in 60 years to win its first three consecutive games.

The 37-0 shutout was Missouri's first shutout since the Sept. 5, 1998, game against Bowling Green (38-0), also marking the first home-opening shutout since 1998.

Missouri scored its most points in a game (37) since a Oct. 19, 2002, loss to Texas Tech, 52-38.

Missouri opened the home portion of its schedule today against Eastern Illinois in front of a crowd of 49,440 on the newly installed FieldTurf on Faurot Field.

Missouri DL Atiyyah Ellison gave the Tiger defense a spark with two breakups and one sack. Ellison recorded his first breakup of the game on Eastern Illinois' first possession. Ellison earned his first sack of the season for a total loss of seven yards.

Freshman DE Brian Smith helped close out the first quarter with the first sack of the game, the fourth of his career, tackling Panther's quarterback Vincent for a loss of seven yards causing a fumble recovered by Mizzou's DE, junior Zach Ville. Smith now stands with four sacks for a total loss of 30 yards.

The Tigers lost their first fumble of the season in the second quarter as TB senior Zack Abron fumbled for a loss for the first time since Missouri's opening game (Illinois) in 2002.

With 1:41 remaining in the half, Missouri TB senior Zack Abron rushed for five yards to score the first points of the game. With his touchdown, Abron moved to fourth on the MU all-time scoring list with 192 yards, passing Tom Whelihan and half-time honoree Brock Olivio.

In the Tiger's second possession of the third quarter, Zack Abron scored from 25-yards out. His 33rd career touchdown, Abron moved to second on all-time TD list behind Corby Jones ('95-'98). With his fifth season touchdown, Abron stands tied with his 2000 TD total, and is 10 back from last season's total of 15.

RSFr. Josh Hibbets recorded the first and second punt block of his career. With one minute remaining in the half, Hibbetts partially-blocked Eastern Illinois' Steve Kuehn's punt. Then, with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter he blocked his second punt and returned it for a 14-yard touchdown helping increase the Tiger lead to 27-0.

Mizzou sophomore WR Sean Coffey recorded his first career touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half, receiving a four-yard pass from QB Brad Smith.

DB RSFr. Marcus Bacon made his first career start.

Line backers Brandon Barnes and James Kinney each recorded a sack on Eastern Illinois QB Andrew Vincent in the opening of the second half. The sack was the first this season of each career for the No. 1 and 2 leading MU tacklers, resulting in a 10-yard loss.

In his 15th start at QB, sophomore Brad Smith threw his longest pass of the season during the third quarter throwing for 34 yards to WR Marcus James.

With a total of 91 yards rushing, Zack Abron moved to sixth on the Missouri all-time career-rushing yardage. Abron now stands at 2,273 yards, surpassing Joe Moore ('68-'70).

Leading receiver junior Thomson Omboga caught an 11-yard pass from QB Brad Smith for his third career touchdown.

Senior DB Michael Harden caught Mizzou's first interception of the season with 5:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Harden increased his career total to three interceptions.

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Marcus Bacon

Brian Smith

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