COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 25th-ranked Missouri Tigers kicked off the second century at Memorial Stadium with a dominant 54-14 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Thursday night behind a nearly perfect first-half passing performance from quarterback Austin Simmons before Mizzou’s 21st consecutive sellout home crowd. Simmons wasn't alone in making his Mizzou debut, sharing the stage with the newly renovated North End Zone of Memorial Stadium, which now holds a capacity of 63,609.

With nine-time Grammy winner and Mizzou alum Sheryl Crow igniting the night with "The Star Spangled Banner," Simmons, a left-handed transfer from Ole Miss, put on his own show in the first half, throwing four touchdown passes in the first half – two to Donovan Olugbode – to become the sixth Mizzou QB to throw four TD passes in a half. In less than a half of action, Simmons completed 17 of 19 passes for 252 yards. He also connected on TD passes to Shaun Terry II and Cayden Lee.

"Obviously, it was the emphasis for us to be able to throw the ball," Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said. "I felt like Austin really handled himself well, especially on third downs. We had multiple third and longs early, with an inability to run the ball at the efficiency that we need to. But for him to be able to trust the scheme, find the throws, wide receivers to get open was really good."

The victory was MU’s 24th consecutive home victory over a non-conference opponent, its sixth straight season-opening win and ran the Tigers’ all-time record in season-opening games to 88-43-5.

The Tiger defense forced UAPB to go three-and-out four times in the first half and limited the Lions (1-1) to 6 total yards, while Mizzou’s offense rolled up 376. For the game, MU had a total offense advantage of 562-198.

The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field, navigating 70 yards in 11 plays, with Simmons connecting on a 25-yard post pattern to Terry for the first score of the season. Blake Craig, back from last year's season-ending knee injury suffered in the first game, converted the extra point, the first of his seven on the night.

After forcing the Golden Lions three-and-out, DaMarion Fowlkes had a 23-yard punt return and Simmons went back to work. Nine plays later, he hit Olugbode with a 14-yard touchdown pass to up MU’s lead to 14-0.

Another three-and-out and a short punt, left Mizzou at its own 43, from where the Tigers moved 57 yards in 10 plays and Jamal Roberts scored on a one-yard run to make it 21-0. Roberts led MU’s ground game with 13 carries for 47 yards.

With just under 6 minutes to play and the Golden Lions lined up to punt, the snap sailed over punter George Wiles-Koehler’s head, and he scurried back and left-footed the ball through the end zone for a safety that gave Missouri a 23-0 advantage.

Following a pair of UAPB penalties on the ensuing free kick, Simmons hit a wide-open Olugbode for a 35-yard touchdown on the first play – the longest reception of his career – to up the lead to 30-0. The sophomore receiver had a career-high eight receptions for 116 yards.

A few moments later, Simmons connected with Terry for a 47-yard TD pass that increased the MU advantage to 37-0.

Craig closed out the half, kicking a 32-yard FG on the final play to make the score 40-0.

Mizzou backup quarterback Matt Zollers ran for a five-yard touchdown with 10:00 left in the fourth quarter and freshman running back Preston Hatfield ran nine yards for another score late in the final frame.

UAPB got on the board in the third quarter on a 27-yard run by Za’Marion Webber, and in the fourth quarter added a touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Jack Schiefholtz to David Brewer IV.

The Tigers (1-0) travel to Lawrence, Kansas, next week for a Friday night game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium against the Kansas Jayhawks in the 122nd renewal of the Border War Rivalry. Game time on Friday, Sept. 11 is 7 p.m. It will be Mizzou’s first trip to Lawrence since 2005.

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