Season 1, Week 5: Tigers Claw Wolves, Franklin Plays Superb

Missouri quarterback James Franklin runs in a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter for his fourth touchdown of the day. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL - Missouri 34 (2-2, 0-1) , Arkansas State 20 (3-2, 1-0)

TOP PERFORMERS

QB Franklin (Mizz): 27-of-33, 347 yards, 3 TDs, 1 rush TD
QB Kennedy (Ark. St.): 20-of-25, 214 yards, 1 TD

HB Oku: 12 carries, 110 yards
HB Josey: 25 carries, 80 yards

WR Green-Beckham (Mizz): 10 catches, 163 yards, 1 TD
WR Washington (Mizz): 5 catches, 75 yards
WR McCants (Ark. St.): 7 catches, 90 yards


Head coach Calvin Smith channeled his inner Dennis Green after Missouri lost last week, saying the Tigers wouldn't let Arkansas State off the hook.

From the opening drive, the Tigers didn't, thanks to James Franklin.

Being the most prolific quarterback in the SEC up until this point, Franklin completed 27-of-33 passes for a season-high 347 yards and accounted for all four touchdowns as Missouri (2-2, 0-1) finished off its non-conference schedule by defeating Arkansas State (3-2, 1-0) 34-20.

"This has been the most efficient this offense has been since I've gotten here," Franklin said. "I don't know what it is, but it's been about as easy throwing the ball this year as it's ever been."

Franklin isn't getting any Heisman consideration, at least not yet, for his play on a 2-2 football team. Yet, he's playing well enough to get that consideration. He's now 12th in the country in passing yards with 1,118 while completing a staggering 80 percent of his passes on 97 attempts.

His passer rating is still the best in the conference at 211.9, and fourth in the SEC with 12 touchdown passes to only three interceptions. It's an understatement for Franklin to say that passing has become so easy to this Tigers offense, knowing this team is a few plays away from being 4-0.

So why is it that way?

"I think the playmakers we have make my job so much easier," Franklin said. "When you've got guys like DGB leading the nation in receiving and Wash making plays, and even other guys who can start with any other team, my job is easy."

Dorial Green-Beckham has indeed been the main reason why Franklin has gotten so much attention. He's third in the nation with 37 catches and trails only Craig Wernick for the nation's lead in receiving yards and yards per game, but has produced in one less game.

DGB caught his fifth touchdown of the year in the first quarter on a 33-yard comeback route where he went untouched to give Mizzou a 14-3 lead.

"It's been a great year," he said. "I just use my size and know that I can use it to my advantage. I know James is putting the ball where he needs to, and I just do what I can after."

The Tigers went up against another no-huddle offense one week after the Hoosiers ran them out of the building in the rain. Red Wolves quarterback Alex Kennedy picked apart the struggling Mizzou defense by completing 75 percent of his passes.

Mizzou made a few goal line stands to hold Arkansas State to field goals in the first and third quarters, but it's essential that the Tigers' defense is the weak link of the chain a quarter of the way through the season.

"It's been agonizing," Smith said. "Luckily, we've found ways to get stops when needed, but in reality, we haven't found ways to remain consistent up front. How we only gave up 20 points the last two weeks is shocking."

The Tigers outgained the Red Wolves 445-338 although Mizzou ran 21 more plays than Arkansas State. The recurring theme has been teams finding ways to get their yards in bulks, and running the no-huddle against Mizzou has been effective.

SEC play begins full-time next Saturday when the Tigers play Vanderbilt before the beginning of the aforementioned "hell week" that Smith has dubbed. He's been saying that the defense has only a few weeks to get the kinks out before steam picks up.

"It's almost here," Smith said. "I've let the players know that this was coming, and it's going to hit them right in the face. We have to come out against Vandy and do damage."

The Commodores may not be ranked heading into Faurot Field, but they have something Mizzou doesn't: A win against a ranked opponent. Vanderbilt defeated No. 13 South Caroling back on Sept. 14 38-28, on the road.

Mizzou will get a chance against senior quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who has thrown for 246 yards per game, but Vandy's leading rusher and passer has completed only 49 percent of his passes. The Tigers need to be ready for another dual-threat quarterback if they hope for their first conference win of the year."

"The good news: Carta-Samuels can't throw," Smith said. "The bad news, he can run well. We need to be tested against these dual threats. Only way to do that? Beat them."