By Kyle Roberts
COLUMBIA, Mo. — A lopsided rushing effort for the Mizzou Tigers proved to be too much for Louisiana Tech Thursday night, as the Bulldogs were downed 52-24, in Tech coach Sonny Cumbie’s inaugural game at the helm of the program.
“It’s disappointing with this outcome,” Cumbie said after the game. “The thing I take from it being on the field, I’m discouraged by the outcome, but I’m not discouraged about our kids playing. We allowed momentum to build against by turning the ball over in the first half. We have to put (ourselves) in better position coaching-wise and try to not turn the football over.”
The Tigers out-rushed the Bulldogs 327 yards to 13, with five separate rushers scoring a touchdown for Missouri.
“The running (game) has to get better,” Cumbie said. “I have to be patient with the run. We have three running backs that are capable of being more productive than we allowed them to be tonight.”
Tech struck first against the Tigers with a 33-yard field goal by Jacob Barnes to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.
Mizzou finally responded with a 41-yard drive capped off by a five-yard touchdown run by senior Cody Schrader on the first play of the second quarter. Roughly 30 seconds later, the Tigers added to the lead after a pick six by junior Joseph Charleston with 14:25 left in the first half. A third straight second quarter Tiger touchdown came thanks to a five-yard reception by five-star freshman Luther Burden with 7:05 to go before halftime.
Senior tight end Griffin Hebert quickly answered with a 75-yard touchdown reception over the middle of the field with a skinny post route and a great throw from junior quarterback Matthew Downing to cut the lead to 21-10 with 6:53 on the clock in the second. The Tigers led 24-10 at the half.
After Missouri extended the lead to 38-10 in the fourth quarter, freshman Cyrus Allen hauled in a 65-yard touchdown catch from senior quarterback Parker McNeil to cut the deficit to 38-17 with 13:49 left to play. Allen finished the ballgame with five catches, 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 37-yard TD reception with less than a minute to play.
“That was something we’ve seen in practice,” Cumbie said of the Allen’s performance. “We were excited to see that in a real game. You’re looking at those things as a coach for the positives. We have a lot of games left in the season, and we were pleased with the way Allen played.”
McNeil finished with 142 yards on 7-of-11 passing with two touchdowns. Downing finished 19-of-34 for 184 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Tech returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 10, against Stephen F. Austin in the home opener for the Bulldogs at Joe Aillet Stadium to celebrate Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is set for at 6 p.m.
