Missouri & Alexander rips up the Cyclones

Missouri Tigers 2009 ... Head Coach: Gary Pinkel

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 10-2
2009 Record: 7-4

9/5 Illinois W 37-9
9/12 Bowling Green W 27-20
9/19 Furman W 52-12
9/25 at Nevada W 31-21
10/3 OPEN DATE
10/8 Nebraska L 27-12
10/17 at Okla St L 33-17
10/24 Texas L 41-7
10/31 at Colorado W 36-17
11/7 Baylor L 40-32
11/14 at Kansas St W 38-12
11/21 Iowa State W 34-24
11/28 Kansas (in KC)

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 11-1
2008 Record: 9-4

8/30 Illinois (St. L.)  W 52-42
9/6 SE Missouri State W 52-3
9/13 Nevada  W 69-17
9/20 Buffalo  W 42-21
9/27 OPEN DATE
10/4 at Nebraska  W 52-17
10/11 Oklahoma St L 28-23
10/18 at Texas L 56-31
10/25 Colorado  W 58-0
11/1 at Baylor W 31-28
11/8 Kansas St W 41-24
11/15 at Iowa St W 52-20
11/22 OPEN DATE
11/29 Kansas (KC) L 40-37
12/6 Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma L 62-21
Alamo Bowl
12/29 Nwestern W 30-23 OT

Missouri Tigers

Nov. 21
Missouri 34 … at Iowa State 24
Danario Alexander caught a 63-yard touchdown pass and Jerrell Jackson took a pass 70 yards for a touchdown as Missouri overcame a 17-10 deficit with two big third quarter scores. Iowa State bounced back with a 12-yard Scott Haughton run to tie it, but the Tigers owned the fourth quarter as the defense stopped the Cyclone offense while the offense got a 38-yard Grant Ressel field goal and a DeVion Moore ran for a one-yard score. Missouri outgained ISU 539 yards to 336.
Player of the Game: Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert completed 23-of-32 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 12 times for 51 yards
Iowa State: Passing: Austen Arnaud, 28-40, 249 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Alexander Robinson, 14-56, Receiving: Darius Darks, 9-107, 1 TD
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 23-32, 337 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 11-62, 1 TD, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 11-173, 1 TD
What It All Means: Danario Alexander is the nation’s hottest receiver at the moment. His 11 catches for 173 yards kept his ridiculous run of big performances rolling, while Jerrell Jackson added another weapon to the arsenal. After a rocky midseason run, the Tigers have won three of their last four and are in a nice position for a decent bowl game as the No. 2 team out of the North. A win over Kansas would make them 8-4, or one loss worse than last year at this time. Considering this is a rebuilding year, that’s not bad. 

Nov. 14
Missouri 38 … at Kansas State 12
Blaine Gabbert and Danario Alexander hooked up on touchdown passes from 54, 16, and 80 yards out as Kansas State turned its season around and hurt Kansas State’s bowl chances. The Wildcats hung around with four Josh Cherry field goals, coming from 47, 34, 35, and 33 yards away, and then Alexander hit his 80-yard home run to spark a run of 21 unanswered points. Derrick Washington scored on touchdown runs from four and 13 yards in the fourth quarter for the Tigers.
Player of the Game: Missouri WR Danario Alexander caught ten passes for 200 yards and three scores
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 21-30, 239 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 23-79, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 8-128
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 20-27, 298 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 13-68, 2 TD, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 10-200, 3 TD 
What It All Means: After a game like this, it’s hard to tell if the team has underachieved all season long or is simply young and in a rebuilding phase. After losing four of their last five games, the Tigers blew up on Kansas State with Danario Alexander coming up with a tremendous two game stretch as one of the nation’s hottest players coming up with ten catches for 200 yards and three scores after making 13 catches for 214 yards and a score against Baylor. The loss to the Bears stings a big more now, but with the win over KSU, Mizzou can take a deep breath and go into the Iowa State and Kansas games trying to solidify its bowl position.

Nov. 7
Baylor 40 … at Missouri 32
Baylor rallied back from an 11-point halftime deficit to put up 24 second half points on Kendall Wright touchdown catches from 13 and 59 yards out and a Terrance Ganaway one-yard run. Missouri got 468 passing yards from Blaine Gabbert, but the offense only came up with a field goal in the second half. Grant Ressel hit three field goals for the Tigers and Danario Alexander took a pass 84 yards for a score. But Baylor kept bombing away with Nick Florence throwing for 427 yards with three touchdown passes including an eight-yarder to Lanear Sampson late in the first half to keep up the pace. Mizzou only netted ten rushing yards.
Player of the Game: Baylor QB Nick Florence completed 32-of-43 passes for 427 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for a score.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 30-51, 468 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: DeVion Moore, 4-16, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 13-214, 1 TD
Baylor: Passing: Nick Florence, 32-43, 427 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Terrance Ganaway, 14-35, 1 TD, Receiving: Kendall Wright, 10-149, 2 TD
What It All Means: Just when it seemed like Missouri had the potential to go on a big run to get back into the hunt for the Big 12 title, it blew the layup. There isn’t an easier Big 12 game than Baylor at home, but all of a sudden the Tigers allowed Baylor to turn into an offensive powerhouse and it’s going to be a scramble just to get to a bowl game. But this Mizzou team is just flaky enough, especially with a hot Blaine Gabbert, to beat Kansas State next week to throw a wrench into the system. For now, just finding a running game over the last three games would be a plus to help out Gabbert. 

Oct. 31
Missouri 36 … at Colorado 17
The Missouri defense dominated the Buffs holding them to just 176 yards of total offense, while the Tiger attack got touchdown catches from Danario Alexander from 73 and two yards out and a one-yard Derrick Washington run on the way to a 33-0 first half lead. Colorado managed to mount a little bit of a comeback with a three-yard Rodney Stewart scoring run and a 78-yard interception return for a score from Benjamin Burney, but couldn’t get closer than 16 points. The Buffs were stuffed all game long finishing with -14 rushing yards.
Player of the Game: Missouri LB Sean Weatherspoon made 12 tackles with a tackle for loss.
Colorado: Passing: Tyler Hansen, 22-36, 190 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Andre Simmons, 1-15, Receiving: Scotty McKnight, 9-104
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 17-29, 192 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 22-99, 1 TD, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 8-123, 2 TD 
What It All Means: After a rough, ugly three-game stretch, the Tigers got back on track with an aggressive defense, a solid day from the offense, and a big early lead that allowed the team to coast against the Buffs. Turnovers continue to be a problem for Blaine Gabbert, he threw two interceptions including a pick six, but he didn’t appear to be hobbled by a gimpy ankle and the offense was able to produce when needed early on to put the game away in the first half. The Big 12 North title is still in play, and Mizzou will likely earn it by winning out. Getting Baylor at home next week is a nice and easy next step.

Oct. 24
Texas 41 … at Missouri 7
Texas was nearly perfect in the first half jumping out to a 21-0 first quarter lead on two Colt McCoy touchdown passes and a 11-yard Fozzy Whittaker touchdown run. Missouri had a brief moment of fun with an 11-yard Jared Perry touchdown catch, but Texas answered with a 13-yard Jordan Shipley touchdown catch, his second score of the game, and a Malcolm Williams blocked punt return for a score. Missouri gained just 173 yards.
Player of the Game: Texas QB Colt McCoy completed 26-of-31 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 8-16, 84 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Kendial Lawrence, 7-37, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 6-74
Texas: Passing: Colt McCoy, 26-31, 269 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Foswhitt Whittaker, 9-35, Receiving: Jordan Shipley, 7-108, 2 TD 
What It All Means: Texas might win the national title. Missouri has to be more concerned that the offense hasn’t picked its mojo up off the field after the ugly fourth quarter against Nebraska a few weeks ago, but there’s no reason to get too in a twist over the loss to the Longhorns. The North title might be out of reach after an 0-3 conference start, but the rest of the schedule is relatively easy, there are games against the leaders (yes, Iowa State and Kansas State are leaders for now), and there’s still time to turn this around if the offense starts scoring. The ground game has to get rolling again and QB Blaine Gabbert has to start flinging it without worrying.

Oct. 17
at Oklahoma State 33 … Missouri 17
Missouri’s offense was hot early with Derrick Washington scoring from one-yard out and Danario Alexander scoring on a 48-yard catch for a 17-14 lead, and then it was all Oklahoma State. The Cowboys got four Dan Bailey field goals and with two seconds left in the first half, an eight-yard Hubert Anyiam touchdown catch. The OSU defense forced four turnovers with Lucien Antoine returning an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. Mizzou outgained OSU 393 yards to 351.
Player of the Game: Oklahoma State WR Hubert Anyiam caught ten passes for 119 yards and a score
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 22-4, 325 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: De’Vion Moore, 7-42, Receiving: Derrick Washington, 7-32
Oklahoma State: Passing: Zac Robinson, 22-35 227 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Keith Toston, 24-87, 1 TD, Receiving: Hubert Anyiam, 10-119, 1 TD 
What It All Means: The Tigers have to figure out how to produce in the second half. After collapsing against Nebraska in the fourth quarter, and with the was the offense went into the tank in the second half against Oklahoma State, there has to be a huge concern about the Texas game coming up. The Longhorns have been a second half team, and to have any chance of pulling off the huge upset, Blaine Gabbert has to find his groove again. He has thrown five interceptions and just one touchdown in the last two games, after failing to throw a pick and tossing 11 touchdown passes in the first four games. He’ll be under pressure against the Longhorns, and he can’t hurry his throws. He has to know what he’s doing before he gets rid of the ball.

Oct. 9
Nebraska 27 ... at Missouri 12 
In a driving rainstorm, Nebraska roared back with a 27-point fourth quarter starting with a 56-yard strike to Niles Paul, his first of two touchdown grabs, and an eight-yard Mike McNeill touchdown grab. Roy Helu put it away with a five-yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining. Missouri took advantage of good field position and Nebraska's problems with the rain getting a safety off a muffed punt snap and a controversial one-yard Blaine Gabbert touchdown run that was reviewed and could've gone either way. But Gabbert threw two interceptions to set up late scores and the Nebraska defense shut down the Tiger attack late.
Player of the Game: Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh made six tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, forced a fumble, and came up with an interception.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 17-43, 134 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 20-80, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 6-43
Nebraska: Passing: Zac Lee, 14-33, 158 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Roy Helu, 18-88, 1 TD, Receiving: Niles Paul, 6-102, 2 TD
What It All Means: Call this a learning experience for Blaine Gabbert and the offense. The defense did its part until the momentum swing the other way, but the Mizzou couldn't figure out a way to get the offense moving late and couldn't come up with the plays needed to stop the Nebraska run. The D played well outside of the first long Husker touchdown, and it only allowed 263 yards and was great at stopping Helu and the run outside of a few key plays. With a trip to Oklahoma State and a date with Texas to follow, the Tigers can't sit around and mope or else the promising season will go south in a hurry. Blaine Gabbert will make mistakes here and there, and the D will have to get used to trying to bail the team out of jams. 

Sept. 25
Missouri 31 ... at Nevada 21
Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns with two going to Danario Alexander from 31 and 74 yards out. Nevada, down 21-13, was driving deep into Tiger territory, but a Luke Lippincott fumble led to an 11-play, 97-yard drive ending with a four-yard catch from Jared Perry. Got an 11-yard touchdown run from Colin Kaepernick and, with 2:32 to play, a six-yard touchdown catch form Brandon Wimberly, but it was too late.
Player of the Game: Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert completed 25-of-40 passes for 414 yards and three touchdowns.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 25-40, 414 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 16-75, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 9-170, 2 TD
Nevada: Passing: Colin Kaepernick, 17-28, 146 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Luke Lippincott, 23-114, Receiving: Brandon Wimberly, 6-76, 1 TD
What It All Means: Gabbert is playing extremely well, but he's getting a ton of help from his receivers. Against Nevada, he was bailed out time and again by throwing it up and letting his receivers make plays, and the Tiger targets made things happen. It might be an overstatement to say that the 11-play, 97-yard drive in the late third, early fourth to put the game away will be looked at as a key point to the season, but it showed the maturity, the calm, and the effectiveness of the offense with all the new playmakers. With a week off, the team should be more than ready for Nebraska.

Sept. 19
at Missouri 52 … Furman 12
Missouri scored six straight times in the first half with Blaine Gabbert connecting with Jared Perry for two first quarter touchdowns and running for a 40-yard score on the way to a 42-0 lead. Danario Alexander scored on passes from 13 and 17 yards away, and Derrick Washington added a one-yard touchdown dash. Furman got on the board with a 21-yard Tyler Maples catch in the third quarter, but the game was never in doubt. The two teams combined for 19 penalties.
Player of the Game: Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert completed 17-of-25 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran twice for 44 yards and a score.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 17-25, 256 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Kendial Lawrence, 10-77, Receiving: Jared Perry, 7-161, 2 TD
Furman: Passing: Jordan Sorrells, 24-39, 24-39, 250 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jerodis Williams, 14-53, Receiving: Adam Mims, 10-154
What It All Means: Furman kept the pressure on all game long by bombing away, but it didn’t matter. The Tiger offense was humming in the first half with Blaine Gabbert in perfect command and the running game taking over later. It was a good tune-up after a lousy performance against Bowling Green the week before, and with Nevada and its ground game coming up next, the Tiger D got to practice a bit by being more aggressive against a Furman offense that was never going to threaten. The one area that needs improving will be the penalties after committing nine for 75 yards.

Sept. 12
at Missouri 27 ... Bowling Green 20
Blaine Gabbert threw two touchdown passes as part of 21 unanswered points over the final 15:57 of the game to pull out the comeback win. Bowling Green dominated early on with Tyler Sheehan connecting with Ray Hutson for an 11-yard touchdown pass and with Willie Geter running for a one-yard score, but Gabbert and the Tiger offense woke up just in time. The Tigers outgained the Falcons 353 to 320.
Player of the Game: Missouri RB Derrick Washington ran 23 times for 120 yards and a score.
Bowling Green: Passing: Tyler Sheehan, 29-46, 206 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jared Perry, 6-55, 1 TD, Receiving: Freddie Barnes, 10-70
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 20-33, 172 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 23-120, 1 TD, Receiving: Jared Perry 6-55, 1 TD
What It All Means: Call it a learning curve. Blaine Gabbert was nearly flawless in the opener against Illinois, but he struggled and sputtered early on against Bowling Green and the offense could only managed field goals when touchdowns were needed. On the other side, Derrick Washington had a sensational day leading a defense that put the clamps down when it had to. With Furman and Nevada coming up next, Gabbert and the offense will have two nice chances to tune up before the North showdown against Nebraska.

Sept. 5
Missouri 37 … Illinois 9
Blaine Gabbert threw three touchdown passes including a 49-yarder to Wes Kemp and a 46-yarder to Jared Pery, and he ran for an eight-yard score as Missouri surprisingly blew away a lifeless Illinois. The Illini lost star WR Arrelious Benn to an ankle injury on the first drive and never got anything offensively going. The Tigers held a 30-3 lead before Illinois finally got into the end zone in the fourth ona one-yard Mikel Leshoure run.
Player of the Game: Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert completed 25-of-33 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 39 yards and a score.
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 25-33, 319 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 14-61, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 10-132
Illinois: Passing: Juice Williams, 18-28, 179 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Mikel Leshoure, 10-38, 1 TD, Receiving: Jarred Fayson, 4-50
What It All Means: Any more questions about whether or not Missouri could reload? The running game didn’t do as much as it should’ve, Derrick Washington was held in check, but Blaine Gabbert has the makings of a superstar with a mature presence, a nice, live arm, and the mobility to make linebackers respect the run. This wasn’t just a blowout, this was a statement that this underappreciated team is going to come out roaring. Now it has to show some consistency, while the defense has to continue to be as tough against the pass as it was against the loaded Illini receiving corps.