Tigers pull out win
Published Oct. 30, 2007
After three games against ranked opponents, maybe it was foolish to expect then-No. 13 Missouri to play with the same intensity as before and beat Iowa State by four touchdowns. The Cyclones proved a tougher challenge than expected, with MU winning 42-28.
The Tigers (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) began the game smoothly, scoring on their first two possessions to lead 14-0. Junior quarterback Chase Daniel, who finished with 250 yards and a touchdown, completed his first 12 passes while junior running back Jimmy Jackson had a 1-yard touchdown run and senior running back Tony Temple had a 7-yard touchdown.
On the Tigers third possession, things started to go wrong.
Facing a third and three at the MU 14-yard line, Daniel dropped back and threw toward usually sure-handed senior tight end Martin Rucker, who stretched for the ball. But the ball bounced off his hands, and Iowa State (1-8, 0-4) freshman linebacker Devin McDowell snatched the ball out of the air and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
"Ten times out of 10, Martin catches that ball," freshman wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said.
It was just that kind of game for the Tigers.
They entered as No. 7 in the nation in total offense on Saturday, averaging 517.57 yards a game. They ended the day with a season-low 366 yards. Iowa State had 389 yards.
"It wasn't a lot of people's best game," senior defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams said. "I think as a team it was more of our B game than our A game."
Still, many of the players, including Daniel, said they were happy to come away with the win despite a sub-par performance.
"A win is a win, man," Daniel said. "It's hard to take them now in college football. You see everyone losing, all these upsets and games a lot closer than they should be. If we can get a win any day of the week, I'll take one."
If Iowa State had pulled off the upset, their success on third downs would have been a big reason why.
"There were a lot of third downs," coach Gary Pinkel said. "I don't know what the numbers are; I'm kind of afraid to look, but third downs were pretty significant."
Iowa State had 20 third downs, 11 of which they converted. They were also 2-of-3 on fourth downs.
With the Cyclones winning the time of possession battle 38:22 to 21:38, they were able to wear the MU defense down and keep Daniel and company on the sidelines.
The Tigers better hope future opponents don't copy this game plan, as the defense took a big hit late in the game when senior safety Pig Brown had to be helped off the field. Probably the most valuable defensive player, he suffered a torn Achilles' tendon and will miss the rest of the season.
"I'm sorry for him," Maclin said. "Everybody is praying for him. But guys got to step up."
After the win against Iowa State, the Tigers are now ranked No. 9, the highest ranking for the team since a No. 8 ranking by the Associated Press poll in 1981.
