Columbia, MO (Sports Network) - Kendial Lawrence ran for 108 yards and two
touchdowns to help the Missouri Tigers claim a 33-10 win over the Kentucky
Wildcats in Southeastern Conference play at Faurot Field.
The triumph marked the Tigers' (4-4, 1-4 SEC) first conference victory as a
member of the SEC. Starter Corbin Berkstresser was benched after throwing
interceptions on consecutive passes to open the second half. James Franklin,
the former starter who missed most of the previous two games with a knee
injury and barely practiced this week, entered and completed 6-of-9 passes.
The Wildcats (1-8, 0-6), who were coming off a narrow loss to nationally-
ranked Georgia, lost three fumbles, and all three led to touchdowns for
Missouri. Kentucky was held to a mere 179 yards of total offense for the game.
Lawrence scored his first TD of the day on a five-yard run at the 9:32 mark of
the first quarter. The score was set up by the Mizzou defense, as Sheldon
Richardson forced a fumble at the Tigers' 15-yard line, scooped up the
football and ran 60 yards to the Kentucky 25.
However, Kentucky answered less than two minutes later on Raymond Sanders'
one-yard touchdown plunge.
The teams then traded long field goals. Missouri's Andrew Baggett kicked a 44-
yarder late in the first quarter, and Kentucky's Craig McIntosh connected from
43 yards at the 12:17 mark of the second quarter to make it a 10-10 game.
Lawrence's second TD came on a two-yard run late in the first half, as the
Tigers went into the locker room with a 17-10 halftime lead.
Missouri padded its lead in the second half. After a 31-yard field goal by
Baggett in the third quarter, Marcus Murphy scored on a nine-yard run at the
14:12 mark of the second quarter to push the Tigers' lead to 26-10. The
defense set up that TD two plays earlier with a sack and fumble recovery at
the Kentucky 12. The defense came up with another big play six minutes later,
as E.J. Gaines sealed the outcome with a fumble recovery and 13-yard return
for a touchdown.
Whereas Missouri scored touchdowns following all three of its fumble
recoveries, Kentucky managed only three points off three takeaways for the
game.
GAME NOTES:
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