One Glaring Problem In Mizzou’s Border War Victory

Despite a stellar offensive performance from Beau Pribula and company, kansas responded with a strong offensive force of its own that was able to punish the Tigers numerous times.

The Jayhawks jumped out to an early 21-6 lead following an opening Missouri touchdown. Jalon Daniels found a majority of his success through the passing game. Daniels found DeShawn Hanika for a 15-yard touchdown to put the Jayhawks on the board. After a defensive touchdown from Kansas — thanks to a Pribula fumble — the Jayhawks continued their offensive dominance with a QB sneak from the 1-yard line from Daniels. It wasn’t until the second quarter that the Tigers found more offense.

“The way the first drive unfolded, I think our guys had a lot of confidence,” Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said after the game. “We just needed to settle in.”

Mizzou eventually fought back into the game — but a glaring stat made it obvious that the Jayhawks were only getting offense through one thing: The pass game.

With less than six minutes left in the third quarter, the jumbotron’s number had changed from -4 to 4; meaning the Jayhawks had added just eight rushing yards — yet still drove down the field for another field goal, making the score 24-21, Jayhawks. Daniels found Carson Bruhn and Hanika on receptions during the drive.

Prior to the first kickoff, on-site, Rory, Matthew, Nate and I gave our Four Keys to the game. Mine was to keep an eye on the matchup between Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr. and Mizzou CB Toriano Pride Jr. While the two players weren’t directly on each other the entire game, Kansas’ game plan was clear: Force Mizzou to keep an eye on Henderson, and let the other guys eat. Henderson ended the first half with just two catches for four yards; but the team finished with 103 passing yards.

“We’ve been in those situations before,” Mizzou safety Daylan Carnell said on playing while trailing. “I know I have. So I was just trying to keep the guys calm and tell them that we just need to go out there and do what we’ve been doing.”

Mizzou’s secondary struggled with positioning at times, leading to big time plays for the Jayhawks. On one play, Kansas WR Levi Wentz burnt Mizzou’s ‘STAR’ position, Jalen Catalon. On another play, Daniels attempted to find Henderson deep but barely overthrew him; it would’ve been a touchdown.

With 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Kansas had an important drive that started near its own 10-yard line. After an attempted run down the gut didn’t go well for the Jayhawks, they went straight back to the passing game, finding DeShawn Hanika for a 24-yard gain. The Tigers were bailed on the very next play as RB Daniel Hishaw Jr. dropped a wide open pass for at least another first down.

On the next play, Henderson finally made his presence felt. The senior Jayhawk receiver hauled in a 25-yard throw; and Kansas was driving. Daniels continued his successful drive with another first down, this time on the ground. The 19-yard rush brought the Jayhawks’ rushing total to 31 yards.

Kansas finished the drive off with a Jalon Daniels passing touchdown to Hanika for six yards and a score. Now Missouri fans were starting to get worried.

“I’m very disappointed in that drive,” Drinkwitz said about the touchdown drive after the game. “Bottom line, we played too much zone coverage. We will get it corrected.”

Missouri responded quick with a Pribula to Brett Norfleet touchdown — the second of the game — once against putting the pressure on Kansas.

When the Jayhawks needed it most, Henderson dropped a potential catch ultimately forcing kU to punt the ball back to Mizzou with just 2:45 left. By then, Pribula just needed a couple first downs to eventually seal the game. Instead, Tigers’ running back Jamal Roberts rushed for a 63-yard touchdown to seal the game (basically the same thing… lol).

On Roberts’ touchdown run, Drinkwitz knew that more than just the runner deserves credit.

“We had to have Kevin Coleman get that block, and if he doesn’t, it’s probably negative yardage play,” Drinkwitz said. “And then Marquise Johnson locks the corner, and that’s how full circle the defense is.”

Although the Jayhawks passing game wasn’t ideal for the Tigers, they found a way to get it done, and scored when they needed to, ultimately winning the game. That being said, the Tigers aren’t done playing competition this year, and Mizzou’s secondary will definitely be something to keep an eye on.