© Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY
Live In-Game Updates: FINAL: Mizzou 52, Louisiana Tech 24
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After a 6-7 finish in the second year under coach Eli Drinkwitz in 2021, the Missouri Tigers have a fresh slate and new opportunities in front of them as Mizzou begins the 2022 season Thursday night at Memorial Stadium with a non-conference bout against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
The Tigers will be led by new starting quarterback Brady Cook, who enters this season as a major headline for the team after the darling hometown hero was officially named the starter last month.
Cook appeared in five games last season, including a start in the Armed Forces Bowl against Army where he went 27 of 34 passing for 238 yards and a touchdown while adding nine carries for 53 yards and an additional score with his legs.
The Tigers would lose that game 24-22, but Cook's performance was enough for Drinkwitz to tab him the starter. He'll be throwing to highly-touted freshman receiver Luther Burden, who Mizzou fans are sure to be watching Thursday night.
As for Louisiana Tech, the team enters this season after a 3-9 record in 2021. The Bulldogs are led by first-year coach Sonny Cumbie, who served as the interim head coach at Texas Tech after the firing of Matt Wells.
At quarterback, the Bulldogs are led by former Georgia and TCU transfer Matthew Downing, who enters his first season with the program.
Stick with MizzouSportsTalk.com as we bring you live updates of all the action from the season-opening game for the Tigers in Columbia.
The Bulldogs have won the toss and will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
The Bulldogs were faced with an early 3rd and 12, as Downing let a deep shot fly down the right sideline. But the ball was batted up in the air in a crazy sequence, as Joseph Charleston came up with an interception. But the play was called off after a pass interference call, as LA Tech was awarded a first down.
Tech then converted on another third down a few plays later.
INTERCEPTION MIZZOU: After a previous pick was called back, the Tigers came up an interception off another tipped ball, as safety Jaylon Carlies returned the ball 37 yards
change of possession
The Tigers were unable to do anything with the turnover, as Cook's first drive as Mizzou's full-time starter ended in a three-and-out.
change of possession
LA Tech speedster Smoke Harris returned the ensuing punt 44 yards to the Bulldogs' 48-yard line.
The Bulldogs converted on a 3rd a 3 at the Mizzou 48-yard line on a acrobatic catch from receiver Griffin Hebert. Tech then converted on another third-and-short on the next set of downs as the Bulldogs were knocking on the red zone.
The Tigers forced another third-down scenario and came up with a big stop in the red zone, forcing a field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL LOUISIANA TECH: Bulldogs kicker Jacob Barnes nails a 33-yard field goal to give Tech an early 3-0 lead.
change of possession
The Tigers will begin their second offensive drive at the 25-yard line after touchback.
After picking up a first down, Drinkwitz went with to the wildcat formation, as Burden took his first collegiate touch 17 yards down the left sideline to the excitement of the home fans.
Mizzou was faced with a 3rd and 5. Cook launched a deep shot down the right sideline to Burden, but the Bulldogs came up with a crucial deflection to force a second punt from the Tigers.
Missouri punter Sean Koetting booted the ball to the Tech 11-yard line.
change of possession
The poor field position forced Tech to punt after a quick three-and-out. The boot from the Bulldogs didn't get past the 50-yard line, as the Tigers were set up at the Tech 41-yard line.
change of possession
Cook took the first play of the next drive on his own, running 10 yards for the first. He then launched one to the end zone for Burden, but the ball fell incomplete after Tech batted it away.
Faced with a third-and-long, Cook found sixth-year receiver Barrett Banister for a first down on an 18-yard competition. Burden then took his second carry of the game eight yards as the first quarter came to a close.
END OF 1ST: Louisiana Tech 3, Missouri 0
SECOND QUARTER
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: As the Tigers flipped field to begin the second quarter, they wasted little time punching it in, as running back Cody Schrader ran it in from five yards out.
change of possession
PICK-SIX TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: Just two plays after the Bulldogs got the ball back, Downing's pass was deflected and hung in the air as Charleston came up with the interception. He returned it 29 yards to the house, extending Mizzou's lead to 14-3.
change of possession
The Bulldogs picked up a quick first down after Smoke Harris ran for 23 yards after the catch. A roughing-the-passer call on Mizzou gave Tech even better field position, setting the Bulldogs up outside the 30-yard line.
INTERCEPTION MIZZOU: But the promising drive was cut short by another interception, as Tigers' linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper gave the Mizzou defense its third pick of the first half. He returned the ball 15 yards, setting the Tigers up at the Mizzou 38.
change of possession
Mizzou running back Elijah Young took the first play of the next drive 22 yards down the right sideline. Burden then snagged his first catch of the game, picking up 16 yards.
FUMBLE MIZZOU: But despite knocking on the door of the goal line, Tigers tight end Tyler Stephens fumbled right outside the 10-yard line, handing the Bulldogs a major break.
change of possession
Tech's offensive struggles continued though, as the Bulldogs were unable to anything with the turnover and punted again after a three-and-out. Mizzou cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine came up with the third-down pass deflection.
change of possession
Schrader continued his strong first half, as he bounced off a tackle to pick up a first down on 2nd and 8 to begin the next possession.
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: Burden continued his dazzling collegiate debut, scurrying around multiple defenders for a five-yard touchdown after catching the ball at the line of scrimmage. The Tigers now had a 21-3 lead after trailing 3-0 early.
change of possession
TOUCHDOWN LOUISIANA TECH: The Bulldogs snatched back momentum despite three early interceptions, as Hebert took the pass from Downing 75 yards to the house after a long catch and run.
change of possession
The Tigers went three-and-out, as Cook took another deep shot to Burden on third-and-long, as the freshman almost snagged the one-handed catch.
change of possession
Downing picked up an 11-yard first down with his legs on the second play of the next drive. But the Bulldogs drive ended quickly after negative plays on the next three snaps. Tech punted, setting the Tigers up in Bulldogs territory at the 49-yard line.
change of possession
After two plays of no gain, Cook ran 11 yards on 3rd and 12, setting up a 4th and 1.
MIZZOU TURNOVER ON DOWNS: But as the Tigers went for it at the Tech 41-yard line, they were stopped on 4th and 1, giving the Bulldogs a chance at points before the half.
change of possession
Downing found receiver Tre Harris for an eight-yard completion on third down to pick up the first. He found Harris again for another first down on the next play, as the Bulldogs were suddenly knocking on the door of field-goal range.
Harris got another on third down two plays later, but was stopped short at the 32-yard line. Barnes then narrowly missed on a 50-yard field goal that hooked right, keeping the Mizzou lead at 21-10 with 29 seconds left in the half.
change of possession
The Tigers began their next possession at the Bulldogs' 33-yard line. Cook threw his first pass incomplete.
Young then picked up a first down with his legs on the next play. After that, Cook found receiver Tauskie Dove for two impressive catches of 22 and 18 yards, respectively, that quickly put the Tigers in field-goal range for kicker Harrison Mevis.
FIELD GOAL MIZZOU: Mevis connected on a chip-shot 32-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half to give the Tigers a 24-10 lead headed into the locker room.
HALFTIME: Missouri 24, Louisiana Tech 10
THIRD QUARTER
The Tigers received the second-half kickoff and began at their own 25-yard line.
But the Mizzou offense was off the field in a blink, going three-and-out.
change of possession
Downing began the Bulldogs' next drive with two completions to Smoke Harris, who shifted his way for a first down on the second grab.
Downing then got pressured and didn't throw the ball past the line of scrimmage, as the officials called intentional grounding, bringing up second-and-long.
The penalty was too much for the Bulldogs to overcome, as they were forced to punt after just five plays.
change of possession
Faced with an early third down in the next drive, Cook found Banister for an eight-yard completion and the first down. He then connected with Stephens for 28 yards.
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: A few plays later, Burden took two more snaps from the wildcat, the second of which resulted in a one-yard rush for a touchdown. It was the second score of his highly-anticipated debut.
change of possession
After no gain on first down, the Bulldogs were set back even further after Mizzou defensive lineman Jayden Jernigan came up with a huge sack to bring up a 3rd and 20. Tech then punted for the fifth time of the night.
change of possession
The Tigers were hit with a holding call on the first play of the next offensive drive, but running back Nathaniel Peat picked up 12 yards on a catch-and-run.
Peat picked up another first down two plays later, running seven yards for the first on third-and-short.
Cook then spun out of pressure from LA Tech and found Dominic Lovett for a 23-yard gain, setting up the Tigers at the Bulldogs' 16-yard line.
INTERCEPTION LOUISIANA TECH: Despite being close to building on the 31-10 lead, Cook looked Burden's way again, but the young receiver had the ball ricochet off his hands as the Maki Carabin came up with the pick.
change of possession
But once again, the Bulldogs went three-and-out after Comby benched Downing in favor of Parker McNeil at quarterback
change of possession
On the second play of Mizzou's next drive, Schrader continued his hot night with a quick 29-yard run down the right sideline.
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: Cook then did the rest, as he showed his dual-threat ability with a 20-yard touchdown run. The Tigers had built their lead to 38-10.
change of possession
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Mizzou 38, Louisiana Tech 10
TOUCHDOWN LOUISIANA TECH: Just four plays into the next drive, Bulldogs receiver Cyrus Allen got behind the Mizzou secondary for an impressive 64-yard score. LA Tech cut the lead down to 38-17.
change of possession
Cook found Lovett for a 23-yard completion to begin the next drive. After a few runs from Schrader and a run from Cook, the Tigers were faced with a 4th and 1. Drinkwitz elected to go for it, as Cook snuck into the A-gap for six yards and the first.
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: Peat continued the Tigers' impressive night on the ground with a 34-yard run down the right sidelines on the way into the end zone. Missouri built its lead to 45-17.
change of possession
The Bulldogs picked up nine yards on four plays before punting again.
change of possession
Jack Abraham replaces Cook at quarterback with a little over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. He found Banister for a 17-yard completion on his first pass of the game.
TOUCHDOWN MIZZOU: BJ Harris bolstered Mizzou's lead with a two-yard touchdown.
change of possession
TOUCHDOWN LOUISIANA TECH: Allen snagged his second deep touchdown of the game with an impressive 37-yard catch in the end zone.
FINAL: Missouri 52, Louisiana Tech 24
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