No. 11 Mizzou dominates FCS Murray State with blowout, shutout in season opener (2024)

COLUMBIA, Mo. — That was smooth.

No. 11 Missouri took control immediately in a season-opening win over Murray State and never entertained the idea of making things close in a comfortable result against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

The Tigers’ fastest scoring start on record was the game’s first blow, and their reserves kept the good times rolling en route to a 51-0victory Thursday night.

With his night cut short by the onset of a blowout, quarterback Brady Cook completed 19 of his 30 passes for 218 yards and a passing touchdown. He also picked up 22 yards and a score on the ground.

Wide receiver Luther Burden III caught three passes for 39 yards and a score, though Mookie Cooper’s lone 49-yard reception led the starters in yardage.

Transfer tailbacks Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll debuted in strong form, rushing for 48 and 35 yards, respectively — plus a touchdown apiece. Noel received more work than Carroll did, though they both mixed into the receiving game.

The Mizzou defense forced and recovered one fumble, returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded six tackles for a loss. The shutout is MU's first since a 2020 game against Vanderbilt.

Hat trick of a hot start

Mizzou began preseason camp by emphasizing red-zone offense — coordinator Kirby Moore’s offseason analysis deemed the Tigers not lethal enough within the 20 yards in front of the goal line. His primary gripe was third downs within the red zone and how often they led to field goals.

It turns out that was a sage way to go about starting camp: MU opened the scoring with a Burden receiving touchdown on a red-zone third down.

In a cheeky move, Murray State went for the onside kick to begin the game, which didn’t work and instead gave the hosts some favorable field position. Missouri’s first offensive play of the season was a jet sweep to Burden, which he took for a first down.

On a 3rd and 5 spotted 16 yards from the end zone, Cook threw to Burden in the flat. The preseason All-American made one man miss and high-stepped the final few yards into the end zone for his first score of the season.

Sticking with an aggressive approach, the Racers went for a 4th and 1 on their 34-yard line in response to Mizzou’s quick opening, which safety Daylan Carnell and defensive tackle Chris McClellan stuffed.

Armed with another short field, Cook targeted Burden straightaway on a deep route to the end zone, which drew a pass-interference call. The rest of the drive was left up to Noel, who only needed three carries to score from nine yards out. Kicker Blake Craig converted his first two collegiate kicks to give MU a 14-0 advantage after barely five minutes of game time.

Ten seconds later, it was 21-0. Cornerback Toriano Pride Jr., also debuting for Mizzou, jumped a soft Murray State pass to the sideline and was off to the races, scoring easily.

The start was the fastest a Missouri team has ever scored 21 points in a game, according to MU statisticians.

And it didn’t stop there. A handful of chunk plays coming through sound reads by Cook netted long receptions by Burden and wideout Mekhi Miller before Carroll carried the ball for the first time. He dragged defenders downfield for a 20-yard run, then punched it in a play later from the 1-yard line to extend the lead to 28-0.

While undoubtedly hot, Missouri’s start fell short of the program record for points in a quarter — the mark of 34 posted in the first quarter of a 2017 game against Idaho remains the number to beat.

Sleepy, sloppy second quarter

For Mizzou, the cost of a first-quarter frenzy was a second frame that was more of a snooze fest.

Deep throws from Cook aimed toward Burden and speedster Marquis Johnson fell incomplete, just shy of their targets’ fingertips. A penalty-free first quarter yielded to five flags in the second. Punter Luke Bauer booted the ball away for the first time this season, booming the attempt 52 yards to flip the field.

Murray State’s offense was mildly more effective — the Racers picked up 27 total yards in the second quarter compared to just 19 in the first — and the Memorial Stadium scoreboard briefly gave the visitors a mysterious three free points. With them rightfully wiped away.

Near the end of the period, Missouri successfully wandered downfield to execute an informal 3-minute drill. After chipping away with short gains, Cook scrambled up the middle for an 18-yard gain to move the ball into the red zone — but more critically for the Tigers’ offense, he slid well before contact.

Instead of trying a field goal before the first-half clock expired, which would have given Craig his first collegiate attempt in a very manageable fashion, MU kept the offense on the field. With Burden in the backfield on what looked like a read-option play, Cook pulled back the handoff and ran the ball in himself for a 3-yard score.

Missouri led 35-0 at halftime.

Add depth to taste

As expected, the rotation of players who saw the field was fairly extensive.

Third-string defensive linemen like Jalen Marshall, Sam Williams and Jahkai Lang all earned snaps in the second quarter.

Wide receiver Joshua Manning caught the first pass of his collegiate career to convert a 3rd and 9. Running back Jamal Roberts, seemingly settled in as the third option at that position, also found a role as a third-down back.

The Tigers rotated their wide receivers heavily, though some of that usage in the second half was influenced by starter Theo Wease Jr.’s absence. He jogged to the locker room shortly before halftime and stood on the sideline without a helmet.

Similarly, tight end Brett Norfleet left the game in the second quarter after a straight-on tackle and did not return.

After Craig got his crack at a field goal and bagged it from 39 yards, Mizzou mixed more defensive depth players into the game. It quickly produced a turnover, with McClellan forcing a fumble that defensive end Joe Moore III recovered.

As MU took over at the Murray State 10-yard line with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter, Drew Pyne relieved Cook at quarterback — and the entire second-team offense followed him onto the field.

Roberts scored on the second unit’s second play — his second-ever collegiate carry to boot — for a 45-0 lead.

With that sprawling advantage, the Tigers turned to the full backup defense with seven minutes left in the third quarter.

Craig added a 22-yard field goal to his tally to put MU up 48-0 with 13:34 to go in the game.

Five-star freshman edge rusher Williams Nwaneri entered the game in the fourth quarter. The Racers ran their first play inside Missouri territory with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

A handful of freshmen who will likely redshirt, like wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield and running back Kewan Lacy, received some action on offense, too.

Craig tacked on another field goal after the two-minute warning for a 51-0 lead.

Next up

Missouri’s second game of the season will be a visit from Buffalo at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7. The Bulls also debuted on Thursday, beating FCS school Lafayette 30-13.