University of Missouri
5-5 , 2-4
Tennessee
4-6 , 0-6
Tigers Run Over Volunteers On Senior Night, 50-17
11/11/2017 10:14:00 PM | Football
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football used an explosive rushing attack and a harassing defensive line to defeat Tennessee, 50-17, Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The win, which came on Mizzou's senior night, gives the Tigers four consecutive triumphs, its longest winning streak since the 2014 season when it won its second SEC East title. Mizzou is now 5-5 on the year and 2-4 in SEC play. Mizzou has now scored at least 45 points in four straight games for the first time in school history.
The Mizzou offense exploded for 433 yards on the ground, its most since rushing for 469 vs. Texas Tech in 2003. Senior TB Ish Witter (Tampa, Fla.) ran for career-high 216 yards on 24 attempts. That's the 11th-most rushing yards in a single game by a player in program history. Freshman Larry Rountree (Raleigh, N.C.) added 155 yards on 18 attempts, the most by a Mizzou freshman since Damarea Crockett (Little Rock, Ark.) racked up 225 yards at Tennessee last season. | IN DEPTH: Running Backs Elevate Their Games
Mizzou's defense was tremendous as well, as seven of the Vols' 17 points came on a pick-six in the first quarter. The defense tallied 8.0 tackles for loss and also forced takeaways on three consecutive Tennessee plays in the second half. Mizzou's offensive line continued its stout play as of late; in addition to leading the way on the most prolific rushing attack in 14 years, the line allowed just one tackle for loss in the game, coming in the fourth quarter. The snapped a string of 140 offensive plays without a TFL, dating back to the fourth quarter of the UConn games (Oct. 28).
Turning Point
After a Tennessee touchdown pass that tied the score at 17-17 with 1:15 remaining in the opening half, Mizzou answered swiftly to take back momentum and head into halftime with a 24-17 lead. On 3rd and 7, Rountree broke free for a 64-yard gain that pushed the Tigers deep in Tennessee territory. Following a penalty, Rountree plunged to pay dirt from one yard out to give Mizzou a 7-point advantage at the break. Mizzou would go on 33 unanswered points to seal an emphatic win on Senior Night. | IN DEPTH: Rountree's Run Turns The Tide
Top Tigers
- Junior QB Drew Lock threw for three TDs Saturday, moving his season total to 34, the second-most in a single season in Mizzou history. His 34 TD passes trail only Chase Daniel's 39 in 2008.
- Lock now has six consecutive games with at least three TD passes, tying the longest streak in the nation this season (Ohio State's JT Barrett also had six). It is the longest active streak in the nation. Lock is the only SEC QB since at least 2008 to throw for at least three TDs in six straight games.
- Freshman RB Larry Rountree III posted a career-high 155 rushing yards Saturday. It was the most by a Mizzou true freshman since Damarea Crockett set the Mizzou freshman record with 225 at Tennessee a year ago.
- Senior RB Ish Witter was also very effective Saturday as the Tigers torched the Vols on the ground. Witter went for 216 on 24 attempts.
Potent Quotables
Notes
- Mizzou's 50-point total marks the first time in the modern era that Mizzou has scored 45+ points in four straight games. Mizzou last scored 40+ points in a four game stretch in 2013 (Indiana - 45, Arkansas State - 41, Vanderbilt - 51, Georgia - 41).
- With the 50-17 win over Tennessee, Mizzou now leads the all-time series, 4-2, with Tennessee. The win snapped a two-game losing streak to the Volunteers after Mizzou won the first three meetings with Tennessee since joining the SEC in 2012.
- Mizzou's offense went for over 600 total yards against Tennessee, totaling 659 yards of offense, the first time Mizzou gained 600+ yards against a conference opponent since Mizzou played Tennessee last season (740 yards). It is the Tigers third time this season over 600 yards, and the second best performance of the season, trailing 815 yards against Missouri State (Sept. 2).
- With an interception in the third quarter, redshirt junior DB Anthony Sherrils became the first Mizzou player with interceptions in back-to-back games since Aarion Penton did it against West Virginia and Eastern Michigan last season.
- Full Post-Game Notes
Up Next
Mizzou has two games remaining in 2017 and both are on the road. Next Saturday (Nov. 18), Mizzou heads to Vanderbilt for a 6:30 p.m. kick on SEC Network. Mizzou then closes the 2017 regular season at Arkansas on Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. on CBS. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to mutigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouFootball) and like the team on Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
UT 0, MU 7
MU - Witter, Ish 7 yd run (McCann, Tucker kick), 8 plays, 82 yards, TOP 2:33
UT 7, MU 7
UT - Warrior, N. 70 yd interception (Medley, A. kick)
UT 7, MU 14
MU - Hall, Emanuel 31 yd pass from Lock, Drew (McCann, Tucker kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:27
UT 10, MU 14
UT - Medley, A. 48 yd field goal 9 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:35
UT 10, MU 17
MU - McCann, Tucker 41 yd field goal 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:14
UT 17, MU 17
UT - Wolf, Et. 19 yd pass from McBride, W. (Medley, A. kick) 15 plays, 66 yards, TOP 6:04
UT 17, MU 24
MU - Rountree, Larry 1 yd run (McCann, Tucker kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:57
UT 17, MU 31
MU - Hall, Emanuel 50 yd pass from Lock, Drew (McCann, Tucker kick) 5 plays, 85 yards, TOP 1:29
UT 17, MU 38
MU - Moore, J'Mon 23 yd pass from Lock, Drew (McCann, Tucker kick) 6 plays, 90 yards, TOP 2:28
UT 17, MU 41
MU - McCann, Tucker 23 yd field goal 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 0:57
UT 17, MU 44
MU - McCann, Tucker 38 yd field goal 10 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:10
UT 17, MU 50
MU - Johnson, Johnat 20 yd pass from Lock, Drew (McCann, Tucker kickblocked) 3 plays, 45 yards, TOP 0:56
