By: Isaac Tinnin
Mizzou Tigers start their season with a win against the UT Martin Skyhawks with the score being 51-14. Mizzou ended the 2017 season 7-6, and went 4-4 in the SEC division. With the Tigers winning their first game, it is expected to be a good year with someone like Drew Lock in the pocket.
Mizzou Tigers quarterback, Drew Lock, went 19-25 and threw for 289 yards in their home season opener. While going up against UT Martin quarterback Dresser Winn, who went 15-24 and passing for 168 yards. There was word about Lock following the offensive coordinator, Josh Heupel from the 2017 season, out the door and declaring for the draft. Lock eventually decided he’d come back for a big senior year and he showed it against the Skyhawks.
Mizzou comes out of the gates with a new offensive coordinator, Derek Dooley. Some words were said about the new offensive coordinator by Drew Lock, “ For him being a first-time play caller, he did great. He knew when to press the tempo. He knew when to slow it down.”
There one weapon you cannot forget coming from Mizzou’s arsenal is there starting wide receiver Emmanuel Hall and his ability to get behind defensive backs. The senior caught four passes with 171 yards and two touchdowns.
The SEC division has a lot of dynamic running backs, but one of them is coming from Mizzou’s backfield and his name is Damera Crockett. The junior will be listed to take a big bulk of the carries being one of two starters in Mizzou’s lineup. Crockett missed the end of his sophomore year when he got sidelined with a shoulder injury in game five while playing Georgia.
A big defensive player for the Tigers is Linebacker Cale Garrett with eight tackles, 6 solo and two assisted. The defense overall had fifty-six overall tackles and three sacks against the Skyhawks.
Mizzou takes down the Wyoming Cowboys in the last Saturday game. The Tiger’s took down the Cowboys 40-13. Drew Lock was a dual threat for the Cowboys defense when he threw four touchdowns and ran for another TD. Lock threw 398 yards and went 33-45 when he went up against Wyoming quarterback, Tyler Vander Waal, who is a freshman. Waal threw for 160 yards and went 13-28.
The Mizzou Tigers are expecting a big year from not only the key players but as a team effort. The coaching staff is working hard and so are the players, let’s see where this 2018 season goes.
Citation-
UT Martin vs. Missouri – Game Summary – September 1, 2018. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=401012255