Mizzou football snaps losing streak with homecoming win

COLUMBIA – Mizzou football got its first win since Sep. 2 breaking a five-game losing streak. The Tigers breat Idaho 68-21 on homecoming.

With the win, Mizzou improves to 2-5 (0-4 SEC).

Here’s what the Tigers had to say after the game.

Despite one interception, Mizzou quarterback Drew Lock had a big day going 23-33 with 467 passing yards and six touchdowns.

Albert Okwuegbunam caught three touchdown passes, which are the most by a Mizzou tight end since Chase Coffman in 2007 against Colorado. J’Mon Moore finished with 11 catches for 174 yards and a touchdown.

Mizzou’s offense got off to a poor start on the first play of the game as Drew Lock threw an interception with no wide receiver within five yards.

The Tiger offense averaged three points in every minute of possession during the game.

Four plays later, Matt Linehan found Kaden Elliss on a short out route for the touchdown. Just 2:03 into the game, Mizzou trailed 7-0.

The Tiger offense got back on track during its next drive as Lock launched a 45-yard pass down the sideline complete to Emanuel Hall. The Tigers capped up off the drive as Drew Lock found Albert Okwuegbunam for the 19-yard touchdown pass over the middle. The score tied the game at seven with 11:15 left in the first quarter.

The Mizzou special teams kept the momentum going as Richaud Floyd returned a punt return 85 yards for the touchdown. At that point, the Tigers led Idaho 14-7 with 8:52 left in the first quarter.

When Mizzou’s offense got back on the field, Johnathon Johnson came down with a 52-yard reception putting the Tigers in the red zone. One play later, Lock found J’Mon Moore on a 15-yard touchdown pass to give Mizzou a 21-7 lead with 5:58 left in the first quarter.

After throwing his first interception, Lock was locked in. The next drive, Lock found Okwuegbunam for his second touchdown of the game to make it 27-7. Lock went 9-10 next 10 passes following the interception with 206 yards and three scores.

Mizzou’s special teams continued to make its mark as Ronnell Perkins fell on the botched kickoff return by Idaho’s Aaron Duckworth. Four plays later, the Tigers turned the turnover into points as Okwuegbunam caught his third touchdown pass of the day making it 34-7 Mizzou with 2:01 left in the first quarter.

Mizzou’s 34 points in the first quarter is the most in a single quarter in school history.

Although Idaho added a touchdown in the second quarter, Mizzou’s offense continued to click. Lock found Kendall Blanton for a 62-yard completion. One play later, Ish Witter punched it in for a three-yard score to put Mizzou ahead 44-14 with 3:47 left in the first half.

Moore hauled in a pair of catches from Lock for a total of 58 yards with under one minute left in the first half giving the Tigers the ball on the Idaho 22-yard line. Lock then found Hall for a diving catch for the touchdown. Mizzou led 51-14 at half time. The Tigers outgained the Vandals with 465 yards to Idaho’s 174.

In the second half, Lock picked up right where he left off with his sixth touchdown pass of the day as the Tigers cruised to victory.

Mizzou’s next game will be against Connecticut Saturday, Oct. 28 on the road.