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
Ugly end to the first half for Tigers
The Tigers started an ineffective offensive drive from their own 20-yard line after the Illinois score. After moving the markers on their first set of downs, junior wide receiver Wes Kemp dropped a big second down pass across the middle from Gabbert.
The drive ended with a sack on Gabbert for a big third down loss followed by a punt to the Illinois 30-yard line. The Illini took advantage with a 34-yard drive in just 45 seconds that was capped off by a 52-yard field goal by junior kicker Derek Dimke.
Illinois leads 13-3 at the half.
Illinois answers with scoring drive, take 10-3 lead
Nathan Scheelhaase capped an 8-play, 82-yard drive for the Illini with a 13-yard touchdown pass to junior A.J. Jenkins. Illinois now leads it 10-3 with 2:10 left in the first half.
Tigers tie it up with 34-yard field goal
The Missouri offense posted a 12-play drive from their own 40 to enter Illinois territory.
Grant Ressel then made up for his earlier miss and connected on the 34-yard field goal to tie the score at 3 midway through the second quarter.
Simmons intercepts deep pass from Scheelhaase
Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase threw it deep on third down and the pass was picked off by Missouri free safety Jasper Simmons.
The Tigers start the drive on their own 40.
Ressel misses wide right on tying field goal attempt
The Illinois defense held the Tigers on their first third down of the second quarter, forcing a 37-yard field goal attempt for Missouri.
Junior place kicker Grant Ressel missed wide right and now the Illini take over at their own 20.
Tigers get it back on second fumble of the first quarter
The Tiger defense gets it right back on a fumble recovered by defensive end Brad Madison. Missouri started their third drive of the game on their own 48.
A quick first down and a rush to end the quarter puts the Tigers on the Illinois 35-yard line with second down to start the second quarter.
Illini lead 3-0 after one quarter.
Fumble forced by Illinois to end Tiger drive
The Tigers complete a pair of long passes for first downs and enter Illinois territory. But Gabbert fumbles on a rush up the middle and the Illini take over at their own 35-yard line.
Illinios strikes the scoreboard first with field goal
The Tigers gave up two quick first downs on the first drive for the Illini before stopping them on a third down in Missouri territory. But an unnecessary roughness call on defensive end Jacquies Smith gave Illinois an automatic first down to the Missouri 25-yard line.
Illinois got as close as the MU 3-yard line, but an offside on the offense and some big goal line stops by the Tigers forced them to kick a 21-yard field goal.
The Illini drive featured 12 rushes and 5 passes for a total of 64 yards.
Tigers stall on first drive of the 2010 season
The Tigers won the toss and elected to receive, starting the first drive of the season at the 22-yard line after senior cornerback Jasper Simmons's return.
Missouri went with three straight passes; the first incomplete, then Gabbert connected with Egnew on the sideline for no gain on second down.
The Tigers were then forced to punt after Gabbert scrambled and threw it long and incomplete on third down.
Missouri vs. Illinois: pregame notes
The 2010 football season is almost underway as we are a little over an hour away from kickoff at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.
The stakes are raised for two players in the game today. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nathan Sceelhaase is making his first career start for the Illini, while all eyes will be on Tiger sophomore tailback Kendial Lawrence as he tries to fill the spot of the permanently suspended Derrick Washington.
The Tigers defeated the Illini 37-9 in the Border Showdown last year.
Follow this live blog for updates throughout the game.