Mizzou Football senior defensive lineman Michael Sam (Hitchcock, Texas) has been named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Line Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Sam was a disruptive force in the backfield for much of the night in Mizzou’s 41-19 win over Arkansas State on Saturday, as he recorded a career-best 3.0 sacks and forced a fumble.

Sam’s 3.0 sacks tie the NCAA single-game high through Sept. 28 this season. His 1.8 tackle-for-loss average through four games leads the SEC and ranks tied for eighth nationally.

Sam is the third Tiger to earn Defensive Line Player of the Week from the SEC after junior DL Markus Golden (St. Louis, Mo.) and junior DL Kony Ealy (New Madrid, Mo.) earned the award for their defensive scores in the Sept. 7 win over Toledo and the Sept. 21 win at Indiana, respectively.

Mizzou (4-0) hits the road to start SEC action, taking on Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 5, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on CSS.

— MU Sports Information —

James Franklin orchestrated two lengthy touchdown drives and added another score on the ground in the second half to help Missouri break open a 41-19 win over Arkansas State in wet conditions Saturday night.

Missouri scored 21 points in the final quarter to finish their nonconference schedule with a 4-0 record, playing their remaining eight games in the Southeastern Conference where they went 2-6 in their inaugural season a year ago.

Franklin led drives of 94 and 87 yards after his team trailed 16-14 with 11:31 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers failed to convert any of their four third-down opportunities and only possessed the ball for 9:12 in the first half.

Adam Kennedy tied a school record with 37 completions for 308 yards and J.D. McKissic caught a school-record 15 receptions for 117 yards for Arkansas State (2-3). Julian Jones added 136 receiving yards on 10 catches for the Red Wolves, who lost consecutive games in the same season for the first time since 2010 despite gaining 425 yards.

Bryan Davis kicked a 33-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the game to pull his team within 27-19 but it couldn’t get closer. He also converted from 41, 21 and 44 yards and has made all seven of his attempts this season.

Missouri looked sluggish in the first half after running 97 plays in a 45-28 win at Indiana last week. The team only ran 25 in the opening 30 minutes Saturday, but Franklin got things going in the third with a 13-yard pass to L’Damian Washington on a third down at Missouri’s 36-yard-line to keep the team on the field. After Franklin ran for 18 yards to the Arkansas State’s 17-yard-line, he found Washington in the corner of the end zone from five yards out for a 20-16 lead.

Missouri held the Red Wolves to a 3-and-out on their subsequent possession before Franklin flipped the ball to Henry Josey for a 1-yard touchdown run with 13:25 remaining for a 27-16 advantage.

Franklin then scampered for a 9-yard score and Marcus Murphy added a 3-yard run after an E.J. Gaines interception to finish the scoring. The Tigers finished with 495 yards of offense, including 239 rushing yards and 256 through the air.

Missouri played most of the game without senior cornerback Randy Ponder, who became the second Tiger this season to be ejected for targeting with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter. Ponder led with his helmet in a tackle on McKissic, resulting in a 15-yard penalty that gave the Red Wolves the ball at the Missouri 39-yard-line and set up a 21-yard field goal by Davis for a 6-0 lead.

Arkansas State looked like it would take the halftime lead when it drove 95 yards to the Missouri 2-yard-line within the final minute. But the Tigers stuffed David Oku twice, setting up a 3rd-and-1 situation. With no timeouts and 14 seconds remaining, Kennedy threw to Oku well behind the line of scrimmage for a 22-yard loss after being pressured by Markus Golden. Time elapsed, and Missouri escaped with a 14-13 lead.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou Football junior defensive lineman Kony Ealy (New Madrid, Mo.) has been named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Line Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Ealy had one of the single biggest individual plays of the 45-28 win at Indiana, taking an interception back 49 yards for a touchdown during a 24-0 run that put the game away for the Tigers.

Ealy leapt to knock down an Indiana pass on a 3rd-and-3 play from Mizzou’s 46-yard line with two minutes left in the half. Instead of only getting a pass breakup, Ealy held on to the ball and raced the other way for a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown. The play staked the Tigers out to a 28-14 lead.

The pickoff was the first of Ealy’s career, and he ended the night with two total pass break ups, while adding one solo tackle as the Tigers held the Hoosier offense in check throughout the contest. Through three games, Ealy leads the Tiger defense with four pass break ups.

Ealy is the second Tiger to earn Defensive Line Player of the Week from the SEC after junior Markus Golden (St. Louis, Mo.) earned the award for his own defensive score in the Sept. 7 win over Toledo.

Mizzou (3-0) returns home to Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium to host non-conference foe Arkansas State on Saturday, Sept. 28, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on CSS. Ticket information is available at MUTigers.com.

— MU Sports Information —

James Franklin threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns, and defensive end Kony Ealy returned an interception 49 yards for a score to lead Missouri past Indiana 45-28 on Saturday night.

The Tigers (3-0) won in Bloomington for the first time since 1953 and ended an eight-game winless streak in this series, though the teams hadn’t played since 1992.

Indiana (2-2) was led by Nate Sudfeld, who threw for 229 yards and one TD, but he was picked off three times. The Hoosiers are now off have a bye week before hosting Penn State on Oct. 5.

It was the only regular-season meeting between schools from the Big Ten and SEC, but the highly-anticipated shootout became a one-sided affair after the Hoosiers tied the score at 14 midway through the second quarter.

Franklin broke the tie with his 1-yard TD run. Then 275-pound Ealy leapt up, picked off Sudfeld and scored to make it 28-14.

Indiana never recovered.

On a night the Hoosiers wore their chrome-striped helmets and celebrated the 20-year anniversary of their Independence Bowl team, fans got to see a little bit of everything in the first 30 minutes.

While Franklin and Sudfeld were busy trading scores, each team had a receiver top the 100-yard mark. And during two quarters in which the teams combined for 627 yards, 93 plays, six touchdowns and five turnovers, the two biggest turned out to be a successful fake field goal that eventually led to a Missouri touchdown and Ealy’s incredible interception and touchdown trot.

The second half, however, was a different story.

While the Hoosiers struggled to move, Missouri took its time, extended the lead and prevented Indiana from taking advantage of its quick-strike offense.

Missouri, which led 28-14 at the half thanks to Ealy, made it 31-14 on Andrew Baggett’s 31-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Franklin then hooked up with L’Damian Washington on a 14-yard TD pass early in the fourth to seal it.

Coach Gary Pinkel won his 93rd game at Missouri, tying Dan Devine for second on the school’s all-time victory list.

Indiana did manage to get a 68-yard scoring pass from Tre Roberson to Shane Wynn with 11:24 left in the fourth and Roberson scored on a short run with 10 seconds to go, but the Hoosiers never got a chance to get close.

Franklin finished 32 of 47. Marcus Lucas caught 10 passes for 101 yards, Dorial Green-Beckham had eight catches for 105 yards and a score, and Russell Hansbrough ran 13 times for 104 yards and scored a TD.

Sudfeld was 21 of 39. Cody Latimer had eight catches for 139 yards and a score, while Wynn caught five passes for 90 yards and another TD.

— Associated Press —

Missouri football junior defensive lineman Markus Golden (St. Louis, Mo.) has been named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Golden made a crucial play in Mizzou’s 38-23 win over Toledo on Saturday, intercepting a Rocket pass and returning it 70 yards for a touchdown.

Golden’s big pick-six started Mizzou’s scoring in the second half, putting the Tigers up 24-9 with 11:40 left in the third quarter. A strong upfield rush and pressure from Golden put him in position to make the snag when Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens lost control of the football while attempting a pass.

Golden snatched the ball out of the air while he pushed Owens out of the way, allowing him open space to race 70 yards the other way for the score.

Mizzou (2-0) has an off week before returning to action at Indiana on Sept. 21 (7 p.m., BTN).

— MU Sports Information —

James Franklin made crucial big plays on consecutive scoring drives in the second half and Missouri pulled away from Toledo for a 38-23 victory on Saturday.

Missouri (2-0) led 24-23 after Toledo (0-2) scored its first two touchdowns of the year but Franklin’s 21-yard keeper set up Henry Josey’s second 1-yard touchdown run of the game which extended Missouri’s lead to eight.

The quarterback later had a 6-yard carry on fourth-and-3 and an 11-yard gain on third-and-9 to set up Marcus Murphy’s 8-yard run to conclude the scoring with 10:29 to go.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel beat the school at which he’s a Hall of Famer and the career wins leader with the help of a few goofs by the visitors.

Toledos’ David Fluellen had 111 yards on 14 carries and 10 catches for 100 yards.

Markus Golden got a gift 70-yard interception return in the third quarter when the ball squirted out of Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens’ hands and right into his arms. Jeremiah Detmer hit three field goals in the first half, connecting from 24, 46 and 41 yards, but punted a low line drive into the back of a Toledo lineman, a 9-yard net to the Rockets’ 44 that gave Missouri a short field on the Murphy score.

Owens scored on a 4-yard keeper and hit Alonzo Russell for a 41-yard score, most of it on a sideline sprint that capitalized on blown coverage, in a span of 5 1/2 minutes in the third quarter to shave the deficit to one.

Attendance was announced at 56,785 in a game that began in 90-plus degree heat. Less than half remained for the finish.

Golden’s touchdown came just a few plays after linebacker Andrew Wilson, one of Missouri’s top defensive players, was ejected for a borderline targeting hit on Marcus Reedy on an incomplete pass. Golden was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct after planting the ball on the turf in the end zone, and Reedy’s resulting 59-yard kickoff return helped set up Owens’ touchdown.

Dorial Green-Beckham beat one-on-one coverage from Jordan Martin on a 9-yard touchdown catch with 1:14 to go in the half for a 17-9 lead. Missouri got a big stop in the other end zone to end the half, with Matt White intercepting a pass from Owens that was tipped.

Levi Copeland’s 51-yard diving reception at the 7, with three defenders in futile pursuit, set up Josey’s first 1-yard run.

The officiating crew needed alternate Chad Walker after umpire David Parker sprained his left knee in the first quarter.

— Associated Press —

James Franklin threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns before coming out early in the third quarter, helping Missouri take command after early struggles and whip Murray State 58-14 Saturday night in an opener that began in 98-degree heat.

Henry Josey had 113 yards on 13 carries with a 68-yard score in his first game back from a left knee injury that required two surgeries and sidelined him all last season. Russell Hansbrough had 104 yards on eight attempts with a pair of scores for Missouri, coming off a disappointing 5-7 record in its first SEC season.

Maikhail Miller threw three interceptions, two by E.J. Gaines, against a defense that stiffened after allowing two early touchdowns. Murray State faded quickly against its first SEC opponent since 2005.

Miller, who transferred from Mississippi last month, threw a touchdown pass and caught one on a flea-flicker for a 14-13 lead with 3:58 to go in the first.

Missouri scored the last 17 points of the first half, recovering from a rough start on both sides of the ball against a school picked to finish tied for sixth in the FCS-level Ohio Valley Conference. Franklin was done for the evening after throwing two touchdown passes the first 5:09 after the break, a 37-yarder to Darius White and 4-yarder to L’Damian Washington to make it 44-14.

It’s the third career 300-yard game for Franklin, who was 26 for 38 and ended up 7 yards shy of his career best against Baylor in 2011. Missouri lost Franklin’s other two 300-yard efforts.

Josey outran a pair of defenders who had the angle on his burst down the sideline in the third quarter. He received a prolonged ovation during pre-game introductions and again after a 20-yard gain on his first carry.

Hansbrough had 101 yards on seven carries and two scores in the rocky first quarter. A turnover ended the opening drive when Bud Sasser fumbled after a catch and kicker Andrew Baggett had an extra-point kick blocked and missed a 30-yard field-goal attempt.

Murray State had 196 total yards and 11 first downs in the first quarter, needing 1:15 to go 59 yards on its opening drive capped by Miller’s 17-yard pass to Walter Powell. Miller spun away from Kony Ealy and strutted into the end zone on a 5-yard flea-flicker pass from wide receiver Jeremy Harness, a play that opened with a lateral pass, for a 14-13 lead late in the first quarter.

Missouri is 10-0 against FCS teams under coach Gary Pinkel, entering with an average score of 50-7, and beat Murray State 47-7 in 2006 in the only other game between the schools. Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Chase Daniel made his Missouri debut in that game with five touchdown passes, and attended Saturday night’s game.

— Associated Press —

Five members of the Mizzou Football team were selected to the 2013 Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Football Teams, as announced by the league office on Thursday. The group was led by Second Team honorees E.J. Gaines (Independence, Mo.), at defensive back, and Marcus Murphy (DeSoto, Texas), at return specialist.

Named to the Bednarik Award Watch List ahead of his senior season, Gaines returns as a top cornerback in the SEC. His 11 pass breakups in 2012 led the Tigers, while his career-high 74 tackles ranked fourth on the squad. Gaines earned First Team All-Big 12 recognition two seasons ago.

Murphy enters his junior campaign with the Tigers after bursting onto the national scene with his return skills in 2012. He earned Second Team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated after scoring four touchdowns on returns last season with three punt return scores and one on kickoff. Murphy finished with First Team All-SEC recognition last season. He has been recognized to the Hornung Award’s preseason watch list.

Third Team nods went to sophomore PK Andrew Baggett (Lee’s Summit, Mo.), senior OL Justin Britt (Lebanon, Mo.) and sophomore WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Springfield, Mo.). Baggett is back on placekicking duties for the Tigers after an SEC All-Freshman performance in 2012, connecting on 14-of-20 field goals and 33-of-37 extra points. A senior, Britt is head coach Gary Pinkel’s most experienced member of the offensive line with 22 career starts to his credit. Considered by many as the nation’s overall No. 1 prospect in the 2012 class, Green-Beckham led Mizzou with five touchdown receptions last season.

Mizzou kicks off the 2013 season at home at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium with Murray State on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

PRESEASON ALL-SEC

Second Team Defense
DB – E.J. Gaines (Sr.)

Second Team Specialists
RS – Marcus Murphy (Jr.)

Third Team Offense
WR – Dorial Green-Beckham (So.)
OL – Justin Britt (Sr.)

Third Team Specialists
PK – Andrew Baggett (So.)

Click here to view the entire 2013 Preseason All-SEC Football teams

— MU Sports Information —