August 26, 2015

By Peter Baugh

With training camp all but over for the Missouri football team, the Tigers have seen plenty of both highs and lows during the preseason.

Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel would be the first to say there is plenty of room for improvement. Pinkel, however, was impressed with the level of competition in the team’s second scrimmage last week.

“We’ll review all the film,” Pinkel said following the scrimmage. “I think there’s a lot of competition out there … (players) competing very hard.”

In the game, the offense beat the defense by a score of 11-9. Junior Maty Mauk and freshman Drew Lock both finished with strong numbers at quarterback. Mauk was 15-for-22 passing and threw for 134 yards and a touchdown. Lock was 15-for-20, throwing for 168 yards and two touchdowns. A major key to the offense’s win was that they managed to stay away from any turnovers.

“We’ve got a great defense and if we can compete with them, do good against them, then we can compete and do good against anybody.” offensive lineman Nate Crawford said.

Junior linebacker Michael Scherer feels that, to get through a grueling training camp, players must have fun.

“You’ve just got to embrace it, you’ve got to enjoy it. I enjoy coming out here,” he said. “I enjoy practice most of the time and we’ve had great weather this year. You’ve just really got to enjoy the work you’re doing because if not it can get long and difficult.”

In the AP preseason football rankings, Missouri was ranked 24th. The Tigers will have their third and final scrimmage on Aug. 27 and their season opener against Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 5.