Oct. 30, 2014
After a strong performance last Saturday against the nation’s best team, the University of Kentucky football team begins the final leg of its 2014 season – which includes three of its last four games on the road – with a trip to face Missouri on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
|
||
Kentucky at Missouri | ||
---|---|---|
Sat., Nov. 1 – 4:00 p.m. ET Memorial Stadium Columbia, Mo. Game Notes: UK | MU |
||
Coverage | ||
TV: SEC Network Radio: UK Sports Network Live Video via SEC Network+ Live Audio Live Stats Text Updates |
||
UK | 2014 Team Stats | MU |
31.6 | Scoring/game | 29.9 |
20.7 | First downs/game | 18.0 |
426.5 | Total offense/game | 331.4 |
159.9 | Rushing yards/game | 160.4 |
266.6 | Passing yards/game | 171.0 |
23.3 | Kickoff returns (avg) | 26.5 |
7.1 | Punt returns (avg) | 14.8 |
42.2 | Punting (avg) | 40.3 |
28:44 | Time of possession/game | 26:57 |
38% | Third down conversion | 38% |
33% | Fourth down conversion | 88% |
+9 | Turnover margin | +6 |
24.8 | Points allowed/game | 20.5 |
378.2 | Total yards allowed/game | 350.6 |
192.6 | Rush yards allowed/game | 138.8 |
185.6 | Pass yards allowed/game | 211.9 |
Kentucky fell just short of its upset bid of No. 1 Mississippi State and was paced by sophomore quarterback Patrick Towles, who had a career day with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. Towles threw for a career-best 390 yards in the game, adding a career-best 76 rushing yards.
Senior DE/LB Alvin “Bud” Dupree finished the game with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Dupree leads all active SEC players with 20 sacks.
This is the third straight season UK and Missouri have met with the all-time series tied 2-2.
Scouting Missouri
Missouri enters the game Saturday with a 6-2 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in Southeastern Conference play. The Tigers are coming off back-to-back wins against SEC Eastern Division foes, defeating Florida at The Swamp before its home win last weekend against Vanderbilt. The Tigers are coming off its historic Eastern Division Championship last season.
Missouri is averaging 29.9 points per game this season behind 331.4 yards total offense per game. The Tigers are averaging 160.4 rushing yards per game and 171.0 passing yards per game. Maty Mauk has competed 52% of his passes for 1,368 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. His favorite targets have been Bud Sasser, who has 40 catches for 551 yards and six touchdowns, and Jimmie Hunt, who has 20 catches for 264 yards and five touchdowns. Russell Hansbrough leads the rushing attack with 107 carries for 572 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tiger defense is allowing 20.5 points per game this season, allowing 138.8 rushing yards per game and 211.9 passing yards per game. Missouri has forced 16 turnovers this season with seven fumble recoveries and nine interceptions. Linebacker Michael Scherer paces the team with 70 tackles, including one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. Junior defensive end Shane Ray has 45 tackles and leads the SEC with 14 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Defensive back Braylon Webb has four interceptions this season with six passes defended.
The Tigers have scored in a number of ways this season, with one interception returned for a touchdown, two fumbles returned for a touchdown, one punt return for a touchdown and two kickoffs returned for a touchdown. Marcus Murphy has all three special team returns and is averaging 14.8 yards per punt return and 34.3 yards per kickoff return.