Lock leads Missouri in rout of Arkansas
In his final home game, Missouri quarterback Drew Lock rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more as the Tigers beat Arkansas 38-0 on a damp and dreary Friday.
Lock completed 16 of 25 passes for 221 yards, surpassing the 3,000-yard mark for the third straight season. Emanuel Hall caught both touchdown passes and finished with six receptions for 153 yards. Larry Rountree rushed 29 times for 119 yards to exceed 1,000 yards for the season.
The Tigers (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of two turnovers to take control early in the second quarter.
Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey threw a pass into the chest of linebacker Terez Hall, whose interception set up Lock for his second rushing touchdown of the game. On the next possession, Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott blindsided Storey, and defensive end Akial Byers – a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas – pounced on the fumble in the end zone as the Tigers took a 21-0 lead.
It was a forgettable end to a difficult debut season for Arkansas coach Chad Morris. The Razorbacks (2-10, 0-8) managed just 187 total yards. Freshman Connor Noland replaced Storey in the second quarter and completed 5 of 17 passes for 98 yards.
Elliott had three sacks for the Tigers after entering the game with no sacks in the first 11 games.
Coach Barry Odom improved to 3-0 against Arkansas, which is Missouri’s designated SEC cross-division rival. Overall, Missouri is 4-1 against the Razorbacks since joining the SEC.
THE TAKEAWAY
Arkansas: The Razorbacks posted their fewest wins since going 2-8 in 1952. This is the second time Arkansas went winless in SEC play. In Bret Bielema’s first season as coach in 2013, the Razorbacks were 0-8.
Missouri: In an effort to boost sagging attendance, Odom publicly offered to buy tickets to Friday’s game for any fans who wanted to attend. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that MU took orders for 5,537 tickets, with an estimated cost to Odom of $138,425. But heavy rain and temperatures in the 40s no doubt kept fans away as attendance was announced at 52,482 but appeared far smaller than that.
UP NEXT
Arkansas: Morris will have plenty of time to put the finishing touches on a promising recruiting class that already has 24 verbal commitments and is ranked No. 12 nationally by Rivals.com.
Missouri: The Tigers will play in their second straight bowl game and their 11th in the last 14 years.
