Brady Cook passed for one touchdown and ran for another as No. 11 Missouri routed FCS opponent Murray State 51-0 on Thursday in Columbia, Mo., in both teams’ season opener.
Cook completed 19 of 30 passes for 218 yards. He added 22 rushing yards on four carries.
Luther Burden III caught a touchdown pass and Nate Noel, Marcus Carroll and Jamal Roberts rushed for touchdowns.
Backup Missouri quarterback Drew Pyne finished 10 of 11 for 82 yards.
The Tigers outgained the Racers 489-85 in total yardage and built a 30-5 edge in first downs.
Missouri got rolling immediately. After recovering Murray State’s onside kick to open the game, the Tigers needed just 2:18 to score their first touchdown on Cook’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Burden.
After another failed Racers gamble — a fourth-and-inches conversion attempt on their own 34-yard line — the Tigers exploited the short field to score again. Noel’s 9-yard touchdown run pushed Missouri to a 14-0 lead 5:12 into the game.
On Murray State’s first play on its second possession, Toriano Pride Jr. intercepted Jayden Johannsen’s pass into the right flat and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
Missouri’s first lengthy drive, 70 yards on six plays, resulted in Carroll’s 1-yard TD run and a 28-0 lead with 3:38 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers closed the first half with a 14-play, 68-yard drive capped by Cook’s 3-yard touchdown run for a 35-0 lead.
Missouri’s final possession with the first-team offense ended with Blake Craig’s 39-yard field goal. That increased the margin to 38-0 with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
Pyne took over for Cook at quarterback and kept the Tigers rolling. Roberts’ 2-yard touchdown run increased the margin to 45-0.
Craig hit a 22-yard field goal to make it 48-0 and a 27-yarder for the game’s final points.
–Field Level Media
