After a slaughter fest last Saturday against Texas A&M, Missouri had the opportunity to right the ship against a vastly improved Mississippi State team. The Tigers would yet again be without Beau Pribula, which left Matt Zollers taking the reigns in his second start of the season. Here is how the game went:

Mississippi State won the toss and elected to receive to start the game. Blake Shapen would get the opportunity to put the Bulldogs up early. The Bulldogs would open with a halfback screen for a gain of 4 and after a run for none and a 3rd down sack by Chris McClellan, the Tigers would take over.

Boy oh boy, Ahmad Hardy, how do you do? Ahmad Hardy opened up the game with a 34-yard run, setting the Tigers up at the State 31. The Tigers would get to 3rd and 5 and on the play, a Bulldog d-lineman would jump, giving the Tigers a free play. Enter the Matt Zollers and Donovan Olugbode show. A 26-yard heave would fall into the breadbasket, touchdown Tigers! 7-0 with 11:29 left in the 1st quarter.

The Bulldogs would get a drive of their own going, thanks to 30 yards given up by the Tigers for penalties. A few Mississippi state false starts however would push them back 10 yards, forcing Mississippi State to convert a 3rd and 15. Shapen would pick up 7 yards on a scamper, with the Missouri defense forcing a field goal. The kick was good, 7-3 Tigers with 6:28 to go in the 1st.

Missouri would respond abruptly. A 4-play, 75-yard drive, with 30 yards from Ahmad Hardy and capped off by a 34-yard TD pass to Joshua Manning would put the Tigers up 14-3. 4:52 in the 1st.

The Bulldogs would get it going, as they designed a trick play. Backup QB Kamario Taylor would take the snap, handed it off to starter Blake Shapen, who would deliver a strike to Brenen Thompson for a 54-yard gain. Kamario Taylor would get the ground game going, using his legs to pick up key yardage. The Bulldogs would get inside the 10 and would seemingly stall on 3rd, but a Daylan Carnell holding would keep the drive alive. Blake Shapen would take it in for a 2-yard TD, 14-10 Missouri, heading into the 2nd quarter. Penalties were an early trend.

The momentum would stay for State, as after the Tigers were driving, Matt Zollers would throw a pick. State would take over at their own 42.

Pndemonium would ensue. Mississippi State would go on a long, 16-play drive, that got all the way down inside the red-zone and eventually inside the Tigers 10-yard line. The Tigers would make a stand, forcing a field goal. In true Michigan fashion, there would be trouble with the snap and Missouri would recover. Toriano Pride Jr would have an absolutely electric return, all the way to the State 23.

Missouri would quickly go 3 and out, but an offside penalty on the kick attempt would restore the drive. From there, Hardy would find p[ay dirt, running it in from 10-yards out. 21-10 Tigers.

From there, the half would conclude, as the Bulldogs punted and the Tigers would miss a 53-yard field goal off the upright, a kick that had the distance. 21-10 going into the half.

Missouri would open up the 2nd half with the ball and immediately started to drive, as Ahmad Hardy got going and eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the day. However, the good would come with some bad, as Hardy would fumble, giving Mississippi State the ball.

State would drive in an efficient manner, marching down methodically, all the way down to the Tigers 3-yard line. The State offense had found life. Shapen would take it in from 3 yards out and just like that, Missouri went from the opportunity to expand the lead, now to inevitably having it cut away. 21-17 Tigers with 10:28 in the 3rd quarter.

Mizzou would not do much. Hardy would have a few nice runs, but the drive was killed due to an intentional grounding. A horrible punt would put the Bulldogs at their own 44.

The Tiger defense would come up huge, thanks to a clutch sack by Darris Smith. Tiger ball.

Ahmad Hardy would respond. Hardy would crib one, from 72 yards out. With 5:56 still left in the 3rd quarter, Hardy had 18 carries for 225 yards, with two touchdowns. Absurd.

On the ensuing possession, things would get worse for State, as Shapen threw a pick-six into the hands of Toriano Pride Jr. Things looked dire, and Mizzou essentially put this game to bed in a matter of minutes. 35-17 Mizzou

State would respond, however, marching down the field in another impressive drive, capped off by a touchdown pass from Kamario Taylor. While it seemed like this game was put to bed, State responded when it needed to. 35-24 Mizzou.

Missouri would then go three and out, giving the Bulldogs a chance to chomp more of a bit into this Tiger lead. The Tiger defense would stand strong, forcing a three and out of their own.

We would head into the last 4th quarter at Memorial Stadium, Tigers up 35-24.

Another punt. The Tiger offense had begun to stall.

The Tiger defense would fgive up six yards on 1st down, but a batted pass would put the Bulldogs at 3rd and 4. The Tigers would stop the Bulldogs yet again, forcing a 4th and 4. On 4th down, the Bulldogs would go for it, a decision that would prove to be costly. Marvin Burks Jr with a pick six, Tigers up 42-24. Game. Set. Match.

Mississippi State then would get a turnover on downs. 11:21 to go.

Ahmad Hardy then decided he needed to have more fun, running it in from 43 yards out. 49-24 Mizzou. 19 carries for 268.

Mississippi State would then drive, with Kamario Taylor coming in at quarterback. The Bulldogs’ offense seemed to look much better, with the threat of Taylor’s legs paying dividends. Eventually, the drive would stall at the Tigers 24, thanks to a sack by Daeden Hopkins. State would kick a field goal to add a few points, 49-27 Tigers with 5:19 to go.

From there, the Tigers would milk the clock, just giving the ball to Ahmad Hardy every play. Not a bad game plan if you ask me. Hardy hits 300.

The Tigers win the game 49-27 in dominant fashion, now looking ahead to a road trip to Norman next week. Massive bounce back win, and we will see if the Tigers can keep the momentum.