Latest entries in Live blog: Missouri vs. Illinois (Sept. 4, 2010)
Follow our constant coverage of the Missouri Tigers' season opener against Illinois on Saturday.
Sept. 4, 2010
Tigers take sixth, final Arch Rivalry game 23-13
Missouri closed out its sixth and final Arch Rivalry game against Ilinois with a 23-13 win. Stay with The Maneater for an in-depth analysis of the game on our website and photos.
Tigers make it a two-score game late
Missouri ran the clock down to 31 seconds as Illinois was left with no remaining timeouts.
Grant Ressel then connected on the 35-yard field goal to make it 23-13 Tigers with just 27 seconds to play.
Last-chance reception for Illinois called out-of-bounds
Down a score with two minutes remaining, Illinois was forced to go for it on fourth-and-ten from their own 21-yard line. Scheelhaase scrambled, avoid a sack and connected with a receiver down the right sideline.
The ruling on the field was that the receiver's foot was out of bounds when he made the catch. His left foot appeared to be just inches out of bounds. The play was reviewed and ruling on the field stood.
The Missouri offense takes over deep in Illinois territory with time running out.
Kenji Jackson nabs third Missouri interception
Junior strong safety Kenji Jackson grabs the Tigers' third interception of the day and ran it back deep into Illinois territory. But an illegal block and unsportsmanlike conduct put Missouri at their own 32-yard line.
The turnover came with just over five minutes remaining in the game and Missouri leading 20-13.
Missouri adds three more
Missouri started the drive in Illinois territory and gained nearly thirty yards to put themselves in field goal range.
Grant Ressel connected on the field goal from 27 yards out, making his two-for-three on the day. The Tigers now lead it 20-13.
Big interception from Gettis brings the offense back out
Scheelhaase under threw his receiver down the sideline on second down and senior cornerback Carl Gettis made a one-handed interception to get the ball back for the Tigers.
Gettis returned the ball into Illinois territory where the offense suffered a three-and-out. Gettis made another stellar play on the punt, downing the boot on the Illinois 1-yard line.
Tigers take the lead to start the fourth quarter
Missouri scored for the second time this half just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Gabbert found tight end Michael Egnew on the left side of the end zone for the 6-yard touchdown pass.
The score capped a 10-play, 69 yard scoring drive. The Tigers have now scored 14 unanswered points and have held Illinois scoreless in the second half.
Third quarter update
There was little action from either team in the third quarter following the Tiger's score five minutes in.
The Illini recorded just one first down all quarter after the Missouri score, punting on both of their drives. The Tigers put together a nice drive but were forced to punt around midfield.
The Tigers will start the fourth quarter with the ball at the Illinois 37.
Missouri capitalizes on first drive of second half
The Tigers finally found the end zone to start the third quarter after forcing an Illinois punt and controlling the ball for the next three minutes.
Gabbert scrambled left on the third-and-five attempt and found T.J. Moe in the corner of the end zone for the 7-yard touchdown connection.
The pass capped off the 10-play, 77-yard drive for the Tigers.
First half notes
Illinois leads 13-3 at the end of the first half.
The Illini dominated the running game in the first half, racking up 157 yards between tailback Mikel Leshoure and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. Missouri ruled the air with 114 yards on 20 attempts from Gabbert.
The Missouri running backs are struggling, with De'Vion Moore leading all Tiger rushers with just 15 yards on four carries.
There were 3 turnovers in the first half, with each team forcing and recovering a fumble and the Tiger secondary getting their first interception of 2010.
Also getting it done for the Missouri defense is defensive end Aldon Smith with a sack and 8 tackles in the first half.
The Illini struck first with a field goal, but the Tigers put themselves in position to tie it up twice, connecting on their second field goal attempt.
But Illinois took the lead back, posting the longest drive of the game with an 82-yard haul for the score. A Missouri three-and-out with under a minute remaining in the half opened the door for a final Illinois drive. The Illini pushed into Tiger territory and connected on a long field goal to make it 13-3.
