Oct. 22, 2007
Iowa State Cyclones (1-7, 0-4) at #13/13 Missouri Tigers (6-1, 2-1)
Oct. 27, 2007 -- Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium -- Columbia, Mo.
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- Game Notes (1.35 MB)
TIGERS LOOK FOR 7TH WIN IN 8 GAMES; PLAY HOST TO IOWA STATE
The Missouri Tigers (6-1 overall, 2-1 in Big 12 Conference play), ranked 13th in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, look to continue their solid play by closing out a brief two-game homestand against the Iowa State Cyclones (1-7, 0-4).
Mizzou jumped in the polls after a dominating 41-10 victory in Columbia last Saturday over then-#22 Texas Tech, as the Tiger defense held the Red Raiders' offensive attack (which ranked #1 in the NCAA coming in) to more than 100 yards and exactly 40 points below their season averages coming into the game.
Iowa State, under 1st-year Head Coach Gene Chizik, is 1-6 overall, but the Cyclones do have a solid win under their belt, over in-state rival Iowa (15-13), and are coming off an inspired performance last Saturday that saw them nearly knock off 4th-ranked Oklahoma in Ames, before falling by a 17-7 score.
TIGERS RIDING HIGH AFTER WIN VS. TECH
The Missouri Tigers were looking to bounce back last week following their 1st loss of the 2007 season (41-31 at #6 Oklahoma), and they did just that and more, as MU bombed 22nd-ranked Texas Tech, 41-10 in Columbia, Mo.
It was Homecoming at Mizzou, but the Tigers were inhospitable hosts to their visitors from West Texas, as MU's defense was the talk of the day, holding the Red Raider offense - which came into the game ranked 1st in the nation in passing and total offense, way below their averages.
Tech QB Graham Harrell, who was 2nd in the nation in pass efficiency coming into the game and had only 3 INTs all year, was picked off 4 times by the Tigers, including on his opening possession - a deflected pass by SS Pig Brown that was gathered in by DE Stryker Sulak and returned 38 yards for a TD to put MU up, 7-0.
The Tigers also held freshman phenom WR Michael Crabtree to just 10 catches for 76 yards (7.6 ypc) and no TDs - Crabtree came into the game with averages of 11 catches, 177.7 yards (15.9 ypc) and 17 TDs.
The Tigers would go up eventually, 10-0, on their way to a 17-10 halftime lead, before breaking it open in the 2nd half by pitching a shutout and tacking on 24 points after intermission. Mizzou used a balanced offensive attack that saw the Tigers rush for 212 yards and 3 TDs (all by TB Jimmy Jackson) and throw for 210 more and 1 TD.
Jackson's 3 TDs came from 1, 3 and 1 yards out, and came one each in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters as the Tigers extended the lead.
The Red Raiders came into the game ranked 1st nationally in total offense (582.0 ypg), passing (500.4), and were 2nd in pass efficiency (177.9 rating) and 3rd in scoring (50.0 ppg), but the Tiger defense was more than up to the challenge, holding Tech to nearly 200 yards shy of its yardage total (388), including 397 passing yards, and exactly 40 points below the Red Raider scoring average.
Playing without starting TB Tony Temple (bruised ankle) for the 2nd-straight game, the Tiger ground game was key to Mizzou's win, as the offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and paved the way for a committee of backs to carry the rock succesfully. Jackson ended with 59 yards rushing and 3 TDs, while true freshman TB Derrick Washington added 9 carries for a career-best 66 yards.
Pig Brown led the way defensively for the Tigers, as he had a career-high 14 tackles, including 4.5 TFLs. Brown had 2 PBUs, an INT (his 3rd of the season), and also deflected the 1st-quarter pass that Sulak ended up hauling in and returning for the pivotal opening score.
PINKEL'S SQUADS SHOW RESILIENCY
The win over Texas Tech continued an impressive trend for Head Coach Gary Pinkel's teams at Mizzou. MU is now 7-0 under Pinkel in games following its first loss of the season.
Two of the rebound wins have come against ranked opponents, including against 10th-ranked Nebraska in 2003 and last week against 22nd-ranked Texas Tech.
Interestingly enough, in the past six seasons under Pinkel, the Tigers haven't been able to extend the momentum after those rebound wins, as MU is 1-5 in the next game. However, upon further examination, every one of those 5 losses were to ranked teams, including 4 against top-3 ranked opponents (#1 Nebraska in 2001; #3 Oklahoma in 2002; at #1 Oklahoma in 2003; #2 Texas in 2005; #19 Oklahoma in 2006).
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MIZZOU BIG 12 DEFENSIVE
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
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| Date | Tiger | Position | Opponent | |
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| 10/22/2007 | Pig Brown | SS | Texas Tech | |
| 9/4/2007 | Pig Brown | SS | Illinois | |
| 10/23/2006 | David Overstreet | SS | Kansas State | |
| 9/18/2006 | Brian Smith | DE | New Mexico | |
| 9/11/2006 | Marcus Bacon | LB | Mississippi | |
| 10/10/2005 | Brian Smith | DE | Oklahoma State | |
| 9/28/2002 | R.J. Jones | CB | Troy State | |
| 11/1/1999 | Jeff Marriott | NT | Texas Tech | |
| 11/9/1998 | Wade Perkins | CB | Colorado | |
| 10/19/1998 | Wade Perkins | CB | Oklahoma | |
| 11/22/1997 | Barry Odom | LB | Tulsa | |
| 11/24/1996 | Joe Love | LB | Kansas | |
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PIG HOGS THE SPOTLIGHT ONCE AGAIN, WINS BIG 12 DEFENSIVE WEEKLY AWARD
Mizzou senior SS Pig Brown was the catalyst for Mizzou's impressive defensive showing last Saturday against Texas Tech, as he made big play after big play in MU's 41-10 shellacking of the 22nd-ranked Red Raiders.
Brown ended the day with a career-best 14 tackles, including 4.5 TFLs. He added his 3rd INT of the season, broke up 2 passes (including one on a 4th-down attempt), and also deflected another pass that ended up being intercepted and returned by MU's Stryker Sulak 38 yards for a TD to open the scoring on the day.
For all of his rooting around on the field, Pig was named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday morning. It marks the 2nd time this season that Brown has won the league's defensive award, as he previously was cited for his outstanding play as he helped lead Mizzou to a 40-34 season-opening victory over Illinois.
Brown was a catalyst for a Tiger defense that won the battle quite significantly against a Red Raider offense that was the nations top-ranked unit prior to Saturday. The Red Raiders came into the game ranked 1st nationally in total offense (582.0 ypg), passing (500.4), and were 2nd in pass efficiency (177.9 rating) and 3rd in scoring (50.0 ppg), but the Tiger defense was more than up to the challenge, holding Tech to nearly 200 yards shy of its yardage total (388), including 397 passing yards, and exactly 40 points below the Red Raider scoring average.
Brown, who is playing his way into serious all-conference and national award consideration, was previously honored this season as both Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, as well as Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Illinois. In that game, Brown gathered three turnovers on the day, including two fumble recoveries (one of which he returned 100 yards for a touchdown that tied the NCAA record for longest fumble return), and a game-saving interception that came at the MU 1-yardline with just :51 seconds remaining in the game. In all, Brown had five tackles, including one that went for a loss.
This is the 12th time overall that a Tiger has won Big 12 Defensive POW honors, and Brown joins former CB Wade Perkins as the only Tigers to win the weekly award twice in the same season (1998).
Here's a look at MU's defensive award winners...
DEFENSE MAKING STATISTICAL STRIDES
Mizzou's defense took some lumps from the peanut gallery/haters after its first two games, when it allowed 435 yards to Illinois and 534 yards to Ole Miss to begin the season.
But Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus' troops have worked hard to get better, and his young squad has done just that in the past month, as the Tigers have held 5 straight foes to under 400 yards of offense.
The Tiger defense is coming of a very impressive day against Texas Tech in which it held Tech's high-flying offense very much in check. The Red Raiders came into the game ranked 1st in the nation in passing offense (500.4 ypg) and total offense (582.0) and were 2nd nationally coming in in pass efficiency (177.9 rating) and 3rd in scoring (50.0 ppg). Despite the scoreboard saying that Oklahoma scored 41 points 2 games ago against MU, the Tiger defense played much better than that, as OU scored 21 points off of turnovers.
The big plays have come down markedly, as MU has allowed only 9 plays of 20 yards or more in its last 5 games combined, compared to 14 of 20 or more in the 1st 2 games alone. Nebraska failed to produce a single offensive play of 20 yards or more, with the longest pass going for 18 yards, and the longest rush being 17 yards, while Texas Tech last time out had just one play of 20 yards or more.
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MU DEFENSIVE COMPARISON:
NON-CONF. VS. BIG 12 GAMES |
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| Category | 1st 4 Games |
Big 12 Rank |
Last 3 Games |
Big 12 Rank |
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| Scoring Def. | 25.0 | 8th | 19.0 | 2nd | |
| Rush Def. | 158.8 | 9th | 61.0 | 2nd | |
| Total Def. | 434.5 | 11th | 356.3 | 3rd | |
| Pass Eff. Def. | 123.3 | 10th | 114.6 | 4th | |
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DEFENSIVE NUMBERS IMPRESSIVE DURING CONFERENCE PLAY
Continuing the discussion about Mizzou's defensive improvement, here's a look at at where Mizzou ranked (and what it was allowing per game) in its first 4 games (all non-conference games), versus where it stands in Big 12-play (last 3 games only)...
MIZZOU IS 23-6 AT `THE ZOU' SINCE 2003 SEASON
Since nicknaming Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium "The Zou" prior to the 2003 season, Gary Pinkel's Tigers have done a nice job of defending their home turf (FieldTurf surface, which was also installed prior to the `03 season, by coincidence).
Since 2003, the Tigers are an impressive 23-6 at home, good for a winning percentage of 79.3%, including 13-5 during that time in Big 12 competition (72.2%). That breaks down to records of 6-0 in 2003, 3-3 in 2004, 4-2 in 2005, 6-1 in 2006 and 4-0 currently in 2007. Mizzou has won 13 of its last 14 at home dating back to midway through the 2005 season. The only loss in that stretch was a 26-10 setback in 2006 to #19 Oklahoma.
TIGERS RISE TO #13 IN A.P. POLL, ALSO STAND #13 IN BCS RANKINGS
After an impressive 41-10 dismantling of #22 Texas Tech last Saturday, Mizzou moved up a couple of spots in the Associated Press Top-25, to 13th. This marks the 6th-consecutive week the Tigers have been ranked, with Mizzou peaking at 11th two weeks ago, prior to dropping a hardfought 41-31 game at current #4 Oklahoma.
The 2nd week of BCS rankings was released Sunday, and the Tigers rose to #13, and were one of four Big 12 Conference teams included in this week's top-25: #6 Oklahoma, #9 Kansas, and #19 Texas were the others.
A few notes about MU carrying a ranking into a game:
- MU is 91-59-1 overall (60.6%) in its previous 151 games as a ranked team, including 2-3 alltime as the #13-ranked team in the AP poll. Here's a look at those games...
- Mizzou has played 68 previous times at home as a ranked team, and the Tigers stand 46-22 alltime in those games (67.7%), including 5-1 under Gary Pinkel...
- Mizzou is 8-7 under Head Coach Gary Pinkel when playing as a ranked team, including 3-1 in 2007, 3-2 in 2006, 1-1 in 2004 and 1-3 in 2003.
TIGERS' SPOT IN BCS POLL IS TIED FOR HIGHEST FOR PROGRAM
The BCS standings (www.bcsfootball.org) this week reflect the Mizzou Tigers at #13, one week after debuting in the initial rankings at #16 the previous week.
This week is the 70th week a set of rankings has been compiled, and Mizzou's showing at #13 is tied for the highest any Tiger team has stood in the rankings (which began in 1998), and only the 9th time overall that MU has made the BCS rankings.
SATURDAY WILL MARK THE 100TH MEETING BETWEEN MIZZOU AND IOWA STATE
Mizzou and Iowa State will meet for the 100th time when they tangle Saturday in Columbia, Mo., and the Tigers own a 56-34-9 advantage in the series' previous 99 affairs. The 56 wins is tied for the most by MU against any opponent (MU also owns 56 wins alltime against Kansas State).
Despite Mizzou's overall edge in the series, the rivalry has been very competitive over the last three decades, as ISU owns an 18-17-2 edge in games played since 1970. The Cyclones have won 11 of the last 20 overall, including 6 of the 11 meetings since the Big 12 Conference debuted in 1996.
The Tigers' series advantage is due in large part to a stretch from 1936 through 1969 where Mizzou went a staggering 27-4-3 against the Cyclones (.838).
As the more recent results might indicate, the series has been very hotly contested of late, as 5 of the last 7 meetings between the two border state rivals have been decided by 7 points or less, including each of the last 3 games, with MU winning consecutive overtime games (17-14 in Ames in 2004 followed by a 27-24 2005 win in Columbia), while Iowa State claimed a 21-16 upset win in Ames a year ago.
TIGERS AND CYCLONES PLAY FOR THE UGLIEST TROPHY IN AMERICA
You know how every family has that one niece or nephew that everyone loves to death, but you just can't get past how homely they are? Along those lines, Mizzou and Iowa State will square off Saturday in hopes of winning a very valued trophy, but one that is undoubtedly one of the ugliest trophies in all of sports-dom.
The winner of the Missouri and Iowa State game each year claims the Telephone Trophy, which is a wooden trophy with a phone set on top of it, with the handset of the phone painted in half black and gold for MU colors, and half red and yellow for ISU colors.
The trophy originated in 1959, under the strangest of circumstances. Prior to the 1959 game played in Ames, a Missouri assistant coach put on his headset in the press box and got a big surprise - he could hear the Iowa State coaches chatting, due to the fact that the wires got crossed and each side could hear the other.
Since then, the two teams have played for the Telephone Trophy, and including the 1959 game, Mizzou holds a 27-18-3 advantage since that time.
LAST YEAR REWIND: IOWA STATE 21, MIZZOU 16 [2006]
In the penultimate game of the 2006 regular season, a dramatic Tiger comeback victory appeared to have taken place, as QB Chase Daniel scored from a foot out on 4th-and-goal with just 26 seconds left in the game to put MU on top, but Iowa State and outgoing coach Dan McCarney ended up with the win, as the Daniel TD was nullified when MU was whistled for holding on the play - and Iowa State claimed a 21-16 win in Ames.
The tough break pushed MU back to the 10 yardline and left one more try for the Tigers, and the Cyclones won that battle, as the ISU defense forced Daniel out of the pocket on the ensuing pass play, and sacked him at the 18-yardline as he scrambled to buy time, ending the game and giving Iowa State its only Big 12 win of the season. The loss dropped Mizzou to 7-4 and handed the Tigers their 3rd straight defeat, and 4th in their last 5 games.
But it was so painfully close to going Mizzou's way, as Daniel's apparent TD led a furious Tiger rally that saw MU come nearly all the way back from a 21-10 deficit to enter the 4th quarter. Mizzou had jumped out to a 10-0 lead, and appeared on the verge of breaking the game open, only to see its offense get bogged down in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while ISU scored 21 straight points over 4 possessions in that span.
The Cyclones dominated the 3rd quarter, turning a 10-7 halftime deficit into a 21-10 ISU lead at the end of the period. Iowa State outscored MU 14-0 in the 3rd quarter, thanks to huge advantages over Mizzou in time of possession (11:03-to-3:57), plays run (26-to-9), total yards (151-to-39) and rushing yards (78-to-6).
It appeared as though Mizzou would roll over the Cyclones early, as MU took the opening kick and methodically drove 80 yards for a TD that came by way of a Daniel 8-yard scoring strike to TE Martin Rucker for a quick 7-0 lead. After MU's defense forced a punt, the Tiger offense was rolling again, getting deep in ISU territory before losing a fumble at the Cyclone 31-yardline. The Cyclones had staved off what looked to be a likely 14-0 deficit.
Mizzou did score next, but could manage only a 38-yard field goal at the 13:18 mark of the 2nd quarter by PK Jeff Wolfert to take a 10-0 lead. A key period in the game came next, as ISU took over at its own 10-yardline after a penalty on the ensuing kickoff. Held in check to that point, the Cyclone offense found its rhythm, as it converted 3 3rd-downs and marched 90 yards for a TD to make it 10-7 and give ISU life.
The Tiger offense got the ball 2 more times before half, including its last drive, which reached the ISU 43-yardline. But MU got nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, as both drives ended in punts.
After ISU's dominating 3rd quarter, the Tigers responded by scoring on a 7-yard TD run by TB Tony Temple with 13:46 left in the game to close it to 21-16 (MU's 2-point try failed). The teams traded punts, and after ISU drove 48 yards and missed a 28-yard FG with just 3:33 left in the game, Daniel led the brilliant drive that saw him nearly score on an acrobatic 3rd-down rush from the ISU 7 that was ruled down at the 1-yardline. That set up the nullified Daniel TD run on the next play that denied MU a thrilling comeback win.
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MU'S THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
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| Opponent | MU 3rd Downs | Pct. | 1st Q | 2nd Q | 3rd Q | 4th Q | |
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| Illinois | 8-of-19 | 42.1% | 0-3 | 5-7 | 1-2 | 2-7 | |
| at Ole Miss | 9-of-16 | 56.2% | 3-5 | 5-5 | 1-3 | 0-3 | |
| Western Mich. | 11-of-17 | 64.7% | 2-3 | 3-4 | 3-6 | 3-4 | |
| Illinois State | 8-of-11 | 72.7% | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2-2 | |
| Nebraska | 10-of-15 | 66.7% | 4-4 | 2-5 | 1-1 | 3-5 | |
| at Oklahoma | 9-of-16 | 56.3% | 0-3 | 4-6 | 4-5 | 1-2 | |
| Texas Tech | 5-of-11 | 45.4% | 0-3 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 2-3 | |
| Totals | 60-of-105 | 57.1% | 11-24 (45.8%) |
22-32 (68.8%) |
14-23 (60.9%) |
13-26 (50.0%) |
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TIGERS LEAD THE NATION IN 3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS
The latest NCAA stats show that Missouri enters this weekend's games atop the nation's rankings in 3rd-down efficiency, converting a nation-best 57.1% (60-of-105). Mizzou maintained the top spot in the rankings despite not being at the top of their game last time out against Texas Tech. In that game - a 41-10 Tiger win over the 22nd-ranked Red Raiders - MU converted at a 45.4% rate, making 5-of-11 tries.
The 1st quarter saw MU go 0-of-3 in 3rd down tries offensively, marking the 2nd straight game that the Tigers haven't been able to convert a 3rd down (0-of-3 at Oklahoma).
Previously, MU had a solid 9-of-16 showing (56.3%) in the Tigers' 41-31 loss at 6th-ranked Oklahoma - that, despite the fact that OU came into the game ranked 3rd nationally in 3rd-down defense, allowing opponents a conversion rate of just 25.5%.
CYCLONES, TIGERS AMONG NATION'S LEAST PENALIZED TEAMS
One of Head Coach Gary Pinkel's tried and true lines has to do with Missouri beating Missouri, and how penalties and mistakes do just that. So far in 2007, his Tigers have done a good job of not beating themselves with penalties, as MU ranks 6th in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game, with just 36.3 yards averaged. Mizzou's opponent this Saturday, Iowa State, is even better at avoiding the yellow hankies, as the Cyclones lead the nation in fewest penalty yards per game, at just 30.6.
Through 7 games, MU has been flagged 37 times for a grand total of 254 yards. They are coming off a game in which they were penalized just 3 times for 33 yards against Texas Tech. Previously, the Tigers were cited 5 times for 25 yards at Oklahoma, after getting flagged 9 times for a season-high 79 yards against Nebraska the previous game.
IOWA STATE WILL LOOK TO CONTROL THE BALL AGAIN
While Iowa State has had a tough year to this point, one thing the Cyclones have had great success at is controlling the clock. Iowa State comes into Saturday's game ranked 9th in the NCAA (2nd in the Big 12) in time of possession, owning the ball for an average of 32:19 per game. Conversely, Mizzou ranks 101st in the nation in average time of possession (11th in Big 12), at 28:17 currently.
Mizzou hopes that trend doesn't repeat from last season, when the Cyclones upset the Tigers in Ames thanks in large part to ISU's ability to chew up clock. In ISU's 21-16 win last season, the Cyclones held the ball for 34:52, to just 25:08 for the Tigers. In the 2nd half, the Cyclones owned the ball for 18:39 of the 30 minutes, keeping the Tiger offense unable to make it all the way back after falling into a 21-10 deficit.
TIGER OFFENSIVE ATTACK AMONG NATION'S MOST BALANCED
Spread offensive attacks such as Mizzou's aren't usually thought of as strong in the run game, but the Tigers, through 7 games, have shown they can do more than just throw the ball.
Mizzou enters Saturday's game against Iowa State ranked 34th in the NCAA in rushing (180.6 ypg), 5th in passing (337.0 ypg), 7th in total offense (517.6 ypg) and 10th in scoring (40.1 ppg).
The NCAA numbers show that MU is the only school in the country currently averaging at least 300 yards passing and 175 yards rushing.
The Tigers displayed virtually perfect balance last time out against Texas Tech, as they rushed for 212 yards and threw for 210 yards in Mizzou's 41-10 win. That broke a string of 21 consecutive games where the Tigers had more passing yardage than rushing yardage in a game - the last previous instance of MU gaining more yards on the ground was in 2005 vs. Baylor (rush for 298, pass for 72).
MORE ABOUT OFFENSIVE BALANCE
After being held to just 70 yards rushing in the season opener against Illinois (359 passing for 429 total on the day), the Tiger offense hit its stride, as it recorded 3 straight games of 300-yards passing/200-yards rushing. Then against Nebraska, the offense was again prolific in nature, going for 606 total yards.
While the Tigers just missed on a 4th straight game of 300 pass/200 rush, the only other time in school history MU has had 3 straight games of at least 200 yds. rushing/300 yds. passing was in 1969, when the Tigers did the trick in consecutive games against Oklahoma (247 rush/312 pass), Iowa State (228 rush/317 pass) and Kansas (344 rush/307 pass).
Mizzou was held to a season-low 57 yards rushing at #6 Oklahoma two weeks ago (361 pasing, 57 rushing as MU outgained OU 418-384 overall on the night), but the balance returned last time out, as the Tigers ran for 212 yards and threw for 210 more against Texas Tech.