COLUMBIA, Mo. - Between Senior QB Drew Lock and Mizzou's trio of running backs, Mizzou Football's running game came alive in Saturday afternoon's loss to Georgia, scoring all of the team's touchdowns and rushing for a combined 172 rushing yards. The running game scored four touchdowns, marking the first time Georgia has given up four rushing scores since a 28-27 loss to Georgia Tech on Nov. 26, 2016.
"I think we had times that we ran the ball really well. Our runners did a little more north and south and did some things that got tough yards," Mizzou football head coach Barry Odom said about his running backs. "We have to be able to run the ball and we'll keep working on it."
The last time Mizzou had four touchdowns by four different rushers in a game was August 31, 2013 when Henry Josey, Russell Hansbrough, Morgan Steward and Marcus Murphy were the Mizzou runners to record rushing touchdowns in a 58-14 victory over Murray State.
Lock, in addition to throwing for 221 yards, rushed for 22 yards and one score early in the fourth quarter. The senior quarterback now has three rushing touchdowns on the season.
Junior RB Damarea Crockett led Mizzou's running backs, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 67 yards on 13 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per rush.
"We felt like we had a fire about us," Crockett said of the running back unit. "Our guys were banged up a little bit out there and we just knew that we had to take responsibility and get the football team down the field and get the drives going."
Freshman RB Tyler Badie chipped in 50 yards and a score, while sophomore RB Larry Rountree III added 33 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Badie spoke about the Tiger rushing game against the Bulldogs and gave praise to the Mizzou offensive line for the rushing game's success.
"That's our mindset every game, being running backs we have to impose our will," Badie said. "It starts with the running game, so as long as we just force ourselves and keep trusting the process we'll be alright. I really have to get all the credit to our offensive line. They worked their butts off in practice and we trusted in them to get it done today."
"It's definitely a good feeling, but regardless of what happens we're all proud of each other and we're all going to support each other," Badie added in regards to his teammates after the tough loss. "We were just trusting the process. We've been practicing real hard and believing in each other."
Mizzou's 29 points were the most Georgia has surrendered this season and the most the Bulldogs have given up against an SEC East opponent since a 38-31 loss to Tennessee on Oct. 10, 2015.
Mizzou football travels to Columbia, S.C. in two weeks to take on South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 6.