Posted: Sep 15, 2012 11:13 PM by Kamen Entchev
Updated: Sep 16, 2012 1:13 PM
COLUMBIA - Missouri held on for a 24-20 victory over Arizona State. Missouri lead 24-7 heading into the fourth quarter. Arizona State battled back with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to cut into the lead. But Missouri's defense made the big plays late. First a stop on fourth and goal from inside the 5-yard line with less than four minutes to go, and then an interception with just more than a minute left. The Tigers forced four total turnovers in the win.
The big story on the offensive side of the ball was that James Franklin did not start due to a shoulder injury. Red-shirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser got his first career college start. Berkstresser completed 21 out of 41 passes for 198 yards and one interception. Berkstresser also ran the ball 18 times for 25 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile running back Kendial Lawrence finished with 62 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
After the game Missouri Football Coach Gary Pinkel spoke about James Franklin's injury, "Irritation, inflammation of his bursa, no structural problems at all in the shoulder, absolutely none. The labrum is absolutely 100%, everything, there's no structural problems. It was just too painful for him, he didn't want to play."
With the win Missouri improved to 2-1 on the season. Up next for the Tigers a roadtrip next Saturday to take on seventh ranked South Carolina.