Okwuegbunam Leads Mizzou Offense in Homecoming Victory
10/20/2018 8:20:00 PM | Football
Sophomore TE Albert Okwuegbunam was a force in the Mizzou passing attack in a 65-33 win over Memphis on Oct. 20. Okwuegbunam recorded six receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns, both Mizzou team-highs.
Okwuegbunam's 104 yards receiving in the first half alone were the most for him in a game this year, besting his previous mark of 81 against Georgia. It was also the first time he broke 100 receiving yards this season.
The tight end saw two of his three touchdowns come in the second quarter. His first touchdown came just over halfway through the quarter on a play action pass. Okwuegbunam snuck past the Memphis secondary, where senior QB Drew Lock found him for a 58-yard touchdown, Okwuegbunam's longest touchdown reception of his career.
"We had been running the ball so well that their linebackers were really flowing heavily inside," Okwuegbunam said of his first touchdown. "We called that play and based on the game plan and based on the film we executed really well and came out with a touchdown."
Okwuegbunam's second touchdown came with just 1:07 left in the first half. He streaked left across the field, where Lock found him yet again and take it to the house for a 47-yard touchdown.
With his second touchdown of the game, Okwuegbunam tied former Tiger Chase Coffman with five multi-touchdown games by a Mizzou tight end. Okwuegbunam reached the mark in just 20 games compared to Coffman's 53.
Okwuegbunam did not let up in the in the second half. His third touchdown reception on the day came with 4:26 left on the clock in the third quarter on 23-yard catch and run. The Mizzou tight end was able to find the ball over his shoulder and tiptoe the sideline before reaching the end zone.
"That all comes from practice," Okwuegbunam said. "Whether it's tiptoeing the sideline and keeping my balance or tracking the ball over my shoulder I was able to keep myself inbounds and take it in for a touchdown."
His three touchdown receptions tied his single-game career best, matching the three he caught against Idaho on Oct. 21, 2017.
Okwuegbunam's three touchdown receptions upped his 2018 season total to five, a team-high. He also currently leads Mizzou with 37 receptions on the year.
"That's how it is every week we just try to pick apart and see where our matchups are," Okwuegbunam said of his matchups during the game. "We saw some matchups with me and we took advantage of them."
Mizzou will return to SEC action at Memorial Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 27, when the Kentucky Wildcats visit Columbia. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. and will be broadcasted on SEC Network.
