In Depth: Damarea Crockett's TD
9/2/2017 5:11:00 PM | Football
Recap: Mizzou 72, Missouri State 43
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In a half of football that produced 83 points, double-digit lead changes and nearly 900 total yards, Mizzou star tailback Damarea Crockett was able to punch in an 11-yard touchdown with 1:03 left in the first half to stretch the Tiger lead to 13 points.
"It was so important," Crockett said. "That drive right there changed the game for us. It was either going to be a bad momentum switch or a good momentum switch and things went really well for us on that one. I'm glad we were able to execute."
The Tigers managed to score 48 points in the first half, sparked by five touchdown passes from Mizzou gunslinger Drew Lock as well as two touchdowns from Crockett, who averaged 6.9 yards per carry. But of all the scoring drives in the first 30 minutes of play, none proved to be more important than the final touchdown of the half. Crockett's second score, capping off an eight-play 72-yard drive, put an end to the lead changes for good. Mizzou entered the locker room up by double digits, a lead that it stretched to 29 points before the clock ran out for the first time this season at Faurot Field.
The backfield duo of Lock and Crockett combined to break multiple Mizzou records this afternoon. Lock set the school record for both passing touchdowns and yards in a single game. The Mizzou junior quarterback threw for 521 yards, completing 21 of 34 passes against the Bears defense. Lock's assault through the air to open the 2017 season broke the previous Mizzou record of 480 yards set by Jeff Handy against Oklahoma State in 1992. Lock also shattered his own record of five touchdowns in a single game today, tossing seven of them to five different Tiger receivers.
Crockett made some history of his own today, becoming the first player in program history to rush for more than 200 yards in back-to-back games. In his final appearance last season, Crockett rushed for 226 yards against Tennessee in late November. Today, the sophomore torched the Missouri State defense for 202 yards and two touchdowns on just 18 carries.
Head coach Barry Odom realizes his team has plenty of room for improvement heading into a primetime matchup next Saturday night against South Carolina, stating postgame that it'll take a full team effort this week in practice. He and the Tigers are already chomping at the bit to get into the film room and hit the practice field tomorrow. As for today, Odom is excited to start the year in the win column.
"I look forward to going back to work and I like the progress and the jump that we're going to make from week one to week two," Odom said. "I think we have a chance to be a really good football team as the season wears on. But we've got to push, and we've got to know where we can get better and then have the ability to go grind and get that done."
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