FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., – If this game ended after Missouri's opening 1:35 scoring drive, it would have been a pleasant ending to an otherwise tumultuous season. But that wasn't the case, and unfortunately for those watching in favor of Missouri, there was still 58:25 left to play, about 2:00 of which ended up consisting of positive moments for the Tigers.
Somehow, those few minutes of elating plays were enough for Missouri to limp to victory against a 2-9 Arkansas team, and Missouri's regular season closes out in anticlimactic fashion, trudging to a fourth consecutive win in the Battle Line Trophy game, getting to hoist hardware in Fayetteville.
Missouri's pass game once again topped its own worst performance, as quarterback Beau Pribula completed a season low four of his seven passes for a season-low 25 yards. Of Pribula's passing yards, 28 were from yards after the catch. There was zero success in pushing the ball downfield.
Given the pass games' disastrous performance, Missouri once again had to rely on its run game, which came through enough to drag out a victory. Ahmad Hardy spearheaded the group, rushing for 158 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries – 53 yards of which came from a monster third quarter breakaway touchdown of which I have no idea how he scored.
Pribula rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries, Jamal Roberts rushed for 100 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries and even Kevin Coleman Jr. tacked on 20 yards on two carries.
Special teams continued its inexplicable woes, misfiring on two snaps, one of which sailed over Connor Weselman on a fourth down punt, setting up Arkansas with a first down in the redzone, the other of which blew past Oliver Robbins and his holder on an extra point attempt in the third quarter.
On the other hand, it had incredibly impressive moments.
Robbins, who has taken Robert Meyer's place as the top placekicker, performed well enough individually, drilling a 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers up six points. Kevin Coleman Jr. returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown to essentially put the game away, his first punt return touchdown of the season. Marquis Johnson also opened the game with a 40-yard kick return.
As for the defense, the unit held Arkansas' offense to 10 offensive points, the Razorbacks lowest mark of the season. Josiah Trotter led the way with 10 tackles, his second consecutive week with double-digit tackles. Trotter also got a sack.
Redshirt sophomore safety Santana Banner had a couple of impressive pass breakups — he'll be a big part of next season's secondary. Damon Wilson II and Chris McClellan each broke through the backfield, McClellan earning two sacks while Wilson got one.
The Tigers will now await placement for a bowl game, and will begin the early stages of a chaotic offseason including the transfer portal, coaching cycles and recruiting.
I'll have all the offseason coverage here on MizzouRoundtable.