The 20th-ranked Missouri Tigers welcomed the UCF Knights to Columbia on Saturday afternoon.
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Both Missouri and UCF had excellent seasons last year – the Tigers finished 12-2, won the SEC East and defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Cotton Bowl while the Knights went 12-1, won the AAC and defeated the Baylor Bears in the Fiesta Bowl.
Behind Maty Mauk and a stout defense, Missouri took down the Knights 38-10 to improve to 3-0 on the season. Mauk completed 14-of-24 passes for 144 yards with four touchdowns, two to Jimmie Hunt and two to Bud Sasser, and one interception. Missouri’s defense held the Knights to just 292 total yards, picked off UCF quarterback Justin Holman twice, sacked him five times and forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. In total, UCF turned the ball over four times
After Missouri forced a quick three-and-out, UCF punter Caleb Houston’s punt went just 24 yards. It took the Tigers seven plays to march 40 yards and get on the board first with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mauk to Hunt.
The Knights were able to answer with an impressive drive, going 73 yards in 13 plays, but they couldn’t punch it in and settled for a 19-yard Shawn Moffitt to cut the lead to 7-3.
On the ensuing possession, Jacoby Glenn picked off Mauk’s pass and returned it 31 yards to the Missouri 31-yard line. The Knights were able to capitalize when Justin Holman found William Stanback for a two-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal, making it 10-7 Knights.
That lead didn’t last long – the Tigers went 75 yards on 14 plays and Mauk again found Hunt, this from 10 yards out and Missouri took a 14-10 lead into the half.
Miidway through the third quarter, the Knights started a drive on their 11-yard line and went 33 yards to the 44 on six plays. On the next snap, Holman’s pass was tipped by Josh Augusta and Augusta was able to make the interception. Four plays later, Mauk found Sasser for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
After another three-and-out, it took nine plays and 71 yards for Mauk to find Sasser for another touchdown, connecting from 22 yards out, to give Missouri a 28-10 lead with just 11:32 to go in the game. The Tigers added a 26-yard field goal from Andrew Baggott and then Holman threw his second interception of the game, this time to Braylon Webb, ending any hopes of a miracle comeback. The Knights got the ball back once more and Holman was sacked by Rickey Hatley. Holman fumbled and Duron Singleton returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to make up a final score.
UCF will look to rebound from their 0-2 start when they host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats next week while Missouri will host the Indiana Hoosiers in their final tune-up before SEC play.
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