IN DEPTH | Mizzou Defense Stifles Wyoming in Victory
9/8/2018 11:10:00 PM | Football
Tigers surrendered just 84 yards in the first half, its best performance since 2015
The Mizzou defense turned in a solid effort during Saturday night's win over Wyoming at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers shut down the Cowboys, surrendering zero points through the first half and only 13 total in the ballgame.
Mizzou senior LB Terez Hall and senior DT Terry Beckner Jr. set the tone for the Tiger defense at the beginning of the game. Hall forced a fumble on the first drive of the game, while Beckner recorded two tackles for loss on the first two Wyoming drives.
"We beat a pretty good team in Wyoming," Hall said. "I feel like scheme-wise, we stuck to what we needed to do and they did exactly what they thought they were going to do. You have to show something different, you can't just come in with the same plan as last week."
The Mizzou defense was effective against the Wyoming offense due to its ability to penetrate the backfield. The defense tallied five QB hurries, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks for the game.
"I thought for the most part we were able to get some pressure on the quarterback," Mizzou head coach Barry Odom said. "I think our front four plus the linebackers, so our front seven, if they can keep on coming effectively and know what is lying ahead for us, they've got a chance to be a good group. We have to keep pushing and we've got to prepare with tremendous urgency and if we do that throughout the process of the week then we go into game day and give ourselves a chance."
Senior DE Nate Anderson and sophomore CB Adam Sparks recorded solid games for Mizzou. Anderson recorded two tackles, with one coming in the form of a sack, his first of the season. Sparks recorded two tackles as well with one for loss and a QB hurry.
"We wanted to stay consistent, which was the main thing because we understand the game so we had each other's backs so we could play even harder," Sparks said. "I'll find a way to help the team, any way I can help the team I'm going to do."
"We understood that our offense was going to start clicking eventually, but we had be sure to bring the energy so our offense could feed off of that and that is exactly what they did," Sparks added about the slow start on the offensive side of the ball.
Redshirt junior S Khalil Oliver was another Mizzou defender who showed out Saturday night. Oliver recorded three tackles to bring his total to six for the season while also recording his first tackle for loss on the season.
"He is a veteran leader man," Hall said of Oliver. "He stepped in and did what he usually does. He's playmaker, he understands football and he's just a football guy. He understands what's going on on the back end, but he's a real football guy and that's why I like him."
The Wyoming offense did not post its first points of the game until the 7:29 mark in the third quarter when Wyoming was able to put one through the uprights for a 51-yard field goal.
Wyoming averaged 225.5 rushing yards through its first two games before Saturday night's game against Mizzou. The Tiger defense held the Cowboys to just 88 yards rushing total.
The Mizzou defense also held the Wyoming offense to 3-13 on third down attempts for game.
Mizzou football travels to West Lafayette, IN to take on the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m (CT).
