Tigers fall at Oklahoma

By Mike Bushnell

Published Oct. 16, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. — Perhaps Missouri isn't ready to make the leap toward national prominence just yet.

Given their best chance to stun a major college powerhouse in years, the No. 11 Tigers took a 24-23 lead into the fourth quarter Saturday over the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners.

But after the Sooners scored a touchdown to take a 29-24 lead, MU never was able to mount another challenge. That was because just two plays after the Oklahoma score, junior quarterback Chase Daniel fumbled handing the ball to freshman wide receiver Jeremy Maclin on an end-around.

Oklahoma junior linebacker Curtis Lofton pounced on the ball at MU's 11-yard line, and with Daniel on his back, lumbered into the end zone for another score that basically sealed what would become a 41-31 loss for the Tigers.

"They (Missouri) couldn't tackle him," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables told The Oklahoman. "He was dragging everyone in."

Missouri (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) certainly had chances to pull the upset in front of 85,041 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. They had 24 more total yards than the Sooners, and they led in time of possession and first downs. Daniel was 37-for-47 for 361 yards and a touchdown, while Maclin had two rushing touchdowns.

But MU was hurt badly by their four turnovers, especially because the Sooners (6-1, 1-1) only had two. Daniel had three turnovers, and MU coach Gary Pinkel said the fumble was a result of miscommunication.

"Chase was running a different play than everyone else," he said. "He was given a wrong play than everyone else had. That's a coaching error, and it's inexcusable to make that error."

Senior tight end Martin Rucker said he wasn't sure how the offense wouldn't be on the same page.

The Tigers were outscored 18-7 in the fourth quarter because they had two drives that lasted less than three plays. Between the time they took the 24-23 lead and the time Lofton's score made it 35-24 Oklahoma, they ran just two plays.

"We just didn't focus late," Daniel said. "It's just not supposed to happen."

But Missouri, the 12-point underdogs, put themselves in contention with a strong third quarter. After only getting 169 total yards in the first half, the MU offense had 150 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter.

Daniel said the strong play to start the second half was a result of the Tigers' nine play, 85-yard drive in the last 1 minute, 37 seconds of the first half. That play ended in a 20-yard field goal by junior Jeff Wolfert.

"It was all momentum going from the end of the first half," he said. "And we played a heck of a third quarter."

Junior tight end Chase Coffman had 10 catches for 102 yards, and Maclin gained 104 yards on his three kick returns. But with 20 mile per hour winds, five of Oklahoma senior kicker Garrett Hartley's kicks sailed over his head, minimizing his impact.

"That was really frustrating," Maclin said. "Obviously I wanted to have a bigger impact."

Daniel said Missouri missed senior tailback Tony Temple, who didn't travel to Norman because of a sprained ankle from last week against Nebraska. The Tigers ran for just 57 yards, and Maclin had 32 of them. Daniel said this game showed the impact Temple has on the offense.

"Tony's our catalyst," Daniel said. "It was hard out there without him."

And Rucker, who leads the country in catches by a tight end, had just one catch in the first half and ended up with just 35 yards receiving.

"They just didn't call my number, so I blocked," he said.

The Tigers also missed a couple of major opportunities to get back into the game. Senior safety Pig Brown had two interceptions go off his hands, including one in the end zone that hit his hands and fell out.

"I lost that one in the light," he said. "The light hit my visor. That could have really changed the game for us."

Although Missouri still has six games left in conference play, there is a good chance these two teams could meet in the Big 12 Championship in San Antonio on Dec. 1. Senior wide receiver Will Franklin said he would love a rematch.

"We played them really well tonight," he said. "That's a great team over there in the Sooners. We hope to see them again in December."