@MizzouFootball Loses Texas Bowl, 33-16

Wednesday, December 27

Houston, Texas

8 p.m.

University of Missouri

7-6

Texas

7-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Texas

Missouri

12/27/2017 11:59:00 PM | Football

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Field position plagued Tigers in first bowl loss since 2010 Insight Bowl

HOUSTON, Texas – Mizzou Football lost a hard-fought, 33-16 contest in the 2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl Wednesday night (Dec. 27) at NRG Stadium. Mizzou fumbled twice, one resulting in a scoop-and-score, and allowed a safety as turnovers and mistakes plagued the Tigers in the loss. Mizzou (7-6) out-gained Texas, 390-280, but couldn't consistently get the ball into Texas territory as the Longhorns (7-6) dominated average starting position. The Tigers had 12 of 17 drives start at or behind its own 20-yard line. Mizzou's average starting field position was its own 16.

Turning Point

After Mizzou cut the game to a one-score contest at 21-16, the Tiger defense forced another Texas punt, giving the ball back to Mizzou, trailing by five late in the third quarter. Following an incompletion on first down, the ball was snapped over QB Drew Lock's head and out of the back of the endzone for a safety, stretching Texas' lead to 23-16. That set up a free kick to give the ball back to Texas with a seven-point lead. Mizzou appeared to get a big stop on third down, but a roughing the passer penalty extended the drive and Texas scored a field goal three plays later to go up 26-16. Mizzou got to midfield on the ensuing drive, but was forced to punt with 10:45 remaining.

Top Tigers

Mizzou senior RB Ish Witter went over the 1,000-yard mark, turning in the 17th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history. Witter is just the 13th player in school history to tally 1,000 career rushing yards.
Senior WR J'Mon Moore, playing in his home city, caught four passes for 42 yards. He caught a pass in 30 straight games to close his career, the 17th-longest streak in the nation.
Senior DE Jordan Harold tallied a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss in the game. He had one sack among those TFLs as well, his first since the second game of the season against South Carolina.
Sophomore LB Cale Garrett broke the 100-tackle plateau on the year with 12 in the Texas Bowl. His 104 tackles are the most for a Mizzou defender since Kentrell Brothers posted a national-best 152 in 2015.
Sophomore WR Johnathon Johnson tied the Texas Bowl record for longest reception and scoring TD with his 79-yarder in the third quarter. It set the Mizzou bowl record for longest scoring play.

Game Notes

MIzzou finishes the season with seven wins (7-6), marking its most wins in a campaign since 2014 (11).
Senior RB Ish Witter tallied 57 yards on the ground Wednesday, giving him 1,000 in his season. Witter finishes his career with 2,418, the ninth-most in school history.
Witter's 1,000-yard season is the 17th in Mizzou history and he is the 13th Mizzou player to accomplish that feat.
Witter's 1,000-yard season gives Mizzou a 3,000-yard passer (Drew Lock), a 1,000-yard receiver (J'Mon Moore) and a 1,000-yard rusher for the second consecutive season. Since Mizzou joined the SEC in 2012, the Tigers are the only SEC team to accomplish that feat in back-to-back seasons.
Mizzou added to its SEC-leading tackle-for-loss total, tallying 11 on Wednesday to match its second-most this season and the most since the Idaho game (Oct. 21). Mizzou recorded at least 10 TFL's for the third time this season.
Full Post-Game Notes

Up Next

With the 2017 season now completed, attention has already turned to the 2018 season. Fans may now renew their season tickets for the 2018 season, and those who wish to purchase new season tickets may also do so here. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to mutigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouFootball) and like the team on Facebook and Instagram.