Drew Lock leads Missouri in rout of Arkansas

Published 10:42 pm Friday, November 23, 2018

Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, center, throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

COLUMBIA, Mo. — In his final home game, Missouri quarterback Drew Lock rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two more as the Tigers beat Arkansas 38-0 on a damp and dreary Friday.

Lock completed 16 of 25 passes for 221 yards, surpassing the 3,000-yard mark for the third straight season.

“He’s done a heck of a job of being Drew, being what we need him to be and playing really well at a high level,” Missouri coach Barry Odom said. “He left his mark.”

Emanuel Hall caught both touchdown passes and finished with six receptions for 153 yards. Larry Rountree rushed 29 times for 119 yards to exceed 1,000 yards for the season.

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The Tigers (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of two turnovers to take control early in the second quarter. Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey threw a pass into the chest of linebacker Terez Hall, whose interception set up Lock for his second rushing touchdown of the game. On the next possession, Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott blindsided Storey, and defensive end Akial Byers — a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas — pounced on the fumble in the end zone as the Tigers took a 21-0 lead.

It was a forgettable end to a difficult debut season for Arkansas coach Chad Morris. The Razorbacks (2-10, 0-8) managed just 187 total yards. Freshman Connor Noland replaced Storey in the second quarter and completed 5 of 17 passes for 98 yards.

“No one wants to lose,” Morris said. “Losing is not acceptable in this program. As we move forward in this program, we’ve got to continue to develop these young men. That’s our No. 1 focus right now.”

Elliott had three sacks for the Tigers after entering the game with no sacks in the first 11 games.

Odom improved to 3-0 against Arkansas, which is Missouri’s designated SEC cross-division rival. Overall, Missouri is 4-1 against the Razorbacks since joining the SEC. 

THE TAKEAWAY 

Arkansas: The Razorbacks posted their fewest wins since going 2-8 in 1952. This is the second time Arkansas went winless in SEC play. In Bret Bielema’s first season as coach in 2013, the Razorbacks were 0-8.

Missouri: In an effort to boost sagging attendance, Odom publicly offered to buy tickets to Friday’s game for any fans who wanted to attend. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Missouri took orders for 5,537 tickets, with an estimated cost to Odom of $138,425. But heavy rain and temperatures in the 40s no doubt kept fans away as attendance was announced at 52,482 but appeared far smaller than that.

UP NEXT 

Arkansas: Morris will have plenty of time to put the finishing touches on a promising recruiting class that already has 24 verbal commitments and is ranked No. 12 nationally by Rivals.com.

Missouri: The Tigers will play in their second straight bowl game and their 11th in the last 14 years.