Missouri trounces Colorado

Big offensive numbers abounded in the one-sided affair.

By Nick Forrester

Published Oct. 28, 2008

What a difference a week makes.

Listening to criticism all week that they were overrated, a disappointment and on a lower level than the elite teams of the Big 12, Missouri took out its frustration on Colorado, defeating the Buffaloes 58-0.

"I think we had something to prove," sophomore tailback Derrick Washington said. "We came out and played with great emotion and were really excited for this homecoming game."

Playing in front of a sell-out crowd of 68,349, it took only four plays for Missouri to get on the board, when Washington ran in for a three-yard touchdown.

Senior quarterback Chase Daniel arguably put himself back in the Heisman Trophy race with an impressive performance. Daniel was 31 of 37 passing for 302 yards and five touchdowns. The five touchdown passes tie his career high. He also set a Missouri single-game record with an 83.8 completion percentage.

Daniel was able to hit multiple targets throughout the game, with eight different receivers getting catches and six different players scoring touchdowns. Washington, senior tight end Chase Coffman, sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, senior wide receiver Tommy Saunders, junior wide receiver Danario Alexander and freshman tailback De'Vion Moore each had a touchdown in a game that proved to be the perfect showcase of the spread offense. Missouri outmatched Colorado with 491 yards to their 199 yards.

"You just can't stop one person," Washington said. "We have too many great athletes on our side of the ball."

Coffman continued to wow the crowd with his acrobatic catches. He had seven receptions for 50 yards and set an NCAA record for most career receptions for a tight end. The previous record was 217 receptions by Ibn Green, who played for Louisville from 1996 to 1999.

On Missouri's second drive, Coffman made a one-handed circus catch while falling backward deep in the end zone for a touchdown.

"(Daniel) made a great pass in there, and I just focused on bringing it in," Coffman said. "Even if it's a tough catch like that, I expect myself to make those catches."

In the second quarter, senior kicker Jeff Wolfert capped off an eight-play Missouri drive with a 23-yard field goal. On that drive, Coffman reminded the Colorado defense of the torture that he put them through in last year's game. Coffman took a pass and hurdled a standing Colorado defender on the play, gaining 14 yards.

"He's the best tight end in the nation," Maclin said. "He does amazing stuff catching the ball, jumping over people. A guy that can be that big and still as athletic as he is is a once in a lifetime thing."

Washington was able to re-establish the running game, which was absent in the losses to Oklahoma State and Texas. He ran for 83 yards on 17 attempts and had a touchdown. Washington is leading the NCAA in scoring with 13 touchdowns this season.

Maclin was able to show his athleticism once again. He had 11 receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns, including a 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter where he burned the entire Colorado secondary.

"That was better than anything we've done this year," coach Gary Pinkel said. "It's a fun business as long as you win football games."