Missouri's younger players step up for Senior Day

Injuries opened the door for some underclassmen to make a difference.

By Evan Glantz

Published Nov. 21, 2009

Before Saturday’s game, the Tigers honored their 15 graduating seniors playing their final game at Faurot Field. It was those seniors who have guided the relatively young Tiger team in 2009. But against Iowa State, it was Missouri’s youngsters who paced the team to a 34-24 victory on Senior Day.

“We have a talented team,” sophomore tailback De’Vion Moore said. “And to see younger players come out and produce, it’s encouraging. (Senior linebacker) Sean Weatherspoon and (senior wide receiver) Danario Alexander, they came to us and said ‘when we were younger, we played our hearts out for our seniors. All we’re asking is that you send us out the right way.’ Basically they made it a personal challenge for us.”

Moore took that challenge to heart, especially after junior tailback Derrick Washington sat out the second half with a concussion. Moore rushed a career-high 15 times and accumulated 51 yards. With Missouri leading 27-24 late in the fourth quarter, coach Gary Pinkel put the ball in Moore’s hands, and he was rewarded with a one-yard touchdown run to effectively seal the win.

“That last touchdown, making it a two-score game, it changed everything,” Pinkel said. “I thought De’Vion did a great job. I think both (Moore and freshman tailback Kendial Lawrence) did. That’s what you have to do. They both had some big carries there that were really important.”

Moore and the rest of Missouri’s running backs got plenty of work Saturday afternoon. The Tigers rushed a season-high 50 times and gained 202 yards on the ground, also a season best.

“It’s our responsibility to help with the pass game,” Moore said. “We have to establish some type of run game in order to get our pass game going. We want to get into a position where not only are they keying (Alexander), but they have to worry about our run as well.”

Sophomore wide receiver Jerrell Jackson was one of the busiest Tigers on Saturday. Coming into the game, Jackson totaled 24 catches for 262 yards and one touchdown. Against the Cyclones, he totaled eight receptions for 142 yards.

Even with his breakout performance, Jackson struggled in the first half. He caught four passes for 46 yards but had a costly fumble that led to an Iowa State touchdown.

Jackson bounced back and did not let the mistakes bring him down.

“Most people would be down after that first half I had,” Jackson said. “But at halftime, the leaders talked to me, they kept me up the whole time. And I was ready to go back out there.”

On Missouri’s first drive of the second half, Jackson and sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert connected on a 70-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 17. It was the longest touchdown catch of Jackson's career.

“I’ve been on him for about five or six weeks now,” Pinkel said. “He made some plays last week against K-State and I said, ‘Heck of a game, but you can be better.’ I’m not sure he wanted to hear that, but it’s my job to motivate kids.”

The tough-love tactic seemed to work.

“Sometimes Coach has to bring you down in order for you to move up,” Jackson said. “I just used that as motivation to come out and help our seniors today.”