Tigers roll past Jayhawks in rivalry game

The Tigers finished the season with 10 wins for only the fourth time in school history.

By Zach Mink

Published Nov. 27, 2010

Gary Pinkel and the Tigers closed the season on a high note Sunday, blowing out the Kansas Jayhawks 35-7. Missouri got all four scores on the ground, with junior tailback De’Vion Moore leading the way with two touchdowns.

“I’m certainly proud of our football team,” coach Pinkel said. “A 10-win season and co-champions of the North, with 40 wins that our seniors have right now, and obviously this has not been an easy year. I’m excited about seeing where we go from here. We’ll see what happens.”

Missouri started the scoring early in the 119th game in the rivalry series, getting in the end zone on the first two offensive possessions of the game. Moore put the Tigers up 7-0 on Missouri’s first drive, scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run. After a Jayhawk three-and-out, the Tigers marched down the field again, with sophomore T.J. Moe extending the lead to 14 with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Kansas followed the scoring with a drive into Tiger territory but could not capitalize, missing a 42-field goal wide left. Missouri opponents are 8-18 on field goal attempts this season.

The Tigers pushed the lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter on a 31-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Kendall Lawrence, his fourth of the season.

The Jayhawks finally got on the board in the third quarter after junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s second interception thrown of the game. Gabbert finished 16 of 26 for 179 yards and one rushing touchdown.

“I’d like to have two throws back,” Gabbert said. “But other than that we got the victory and that’s all that matters.”

Kansas scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, breaking Missouri’s shutout streak at 100 minutes and 29 seconds.

The Tigers quickly bounced back after the score, driving 73 yards in 11 plays for the 28-7 lead. Gabbert snuck in from 1-yard out for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Missouri put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter on another touchdown run from Moore, this time from 5-yards out.

The Tigers outgained the Jayhawks 397-141 in total yards on the day, which was the lowest yardage by a Big 12 opponent since the start of the Big 12 conference in 1996. The Jayhawks struggled on offense all night due to the tenacious play of the Tiger defense.

“There’s always room for improvement,” sophomore defensive end Aldon Smith said. “But I think we played pretty well today. Last game we were able to pitch a shutout and today we were able to hold them to seven points. So if we keep improving we can hopefully stay on track.”

Missouri now holds a 56-54-9 record in the all-time series. Though the score was not close, the rivalry still had its share of intensity. Jayhawk coach Turner Gill said he looks forward to continuing the rivalry next year.

“It’s intense,” Gill said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to come back next year and play in this rivalry. I don’t think it’s a bitter rivalry between the players but it is a physical game, and I am glad to be a part of it.”

With the regular season coming to a close, the Tigers now await bowl selections. Pinkel said the team is still taking things on a day-to-day basis.

“I’m not sure how it all goes down,” Pinkel said. “I stay so focused day today, I just don’t look at the big picture sometimes. Certainly with the great league that we play in and with our schedule, hopefully we will go to a great bowl. I think my staff and players need credit for how hard they’ve worked.”