Season 1, Week 14: Aggies Annihilated by Now-Ranked Mizzou

Mizzou wide receiver L'Damian Washington hushes the Texas A&M crowd after a 72-yard touchdown catch gave the Tigers the lead for good. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3

FINAL
No. 24 Missouri (7-5, 5-4) 35
No. 14 Texas A&M (9-3, 6-3) 23

TOP PERFORMERS
Franklin (Mizz): 14-of-19, 229 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Manziel (A&M): 17-of-21, 204 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT

Franklin (Mizz): 13 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD
Josey (Mizz): 24 carries, 143 yards, 1 TD

Washington (Mizz): 3 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD
White (Mizz): 5 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

Gaines (Mizz): 5 tackles, 1 INT
Wilson (Mizz): 4 tackles,1 INT
Matthews (A&M) 7 tackles, 1 INT
Harris (A&M) 6 tackles, 1 FF


RECAP
Calvin Smith might as well bet on parlay cards every week.

He's good at making predictions a week ahead of games.

After Missouri shocked the world and knocked off Alabama on Senior Day, Smith made the bold claim that the Tigers would go to College Station and beat Texas A&M on the road.

Not only did the Tigers win, they dominated the second half and are now in the top-25 in the country because of it.

James Franklin accounted for four of Mizzou's five touchdowns in his final regular season game as Tigers quarterback (three passing, one rushing), and L'Damian Washington reeled in 102 yards on three catches including a 72-yard touchdown to give the now-ranked No. 24 Tigers (7-5, 5-4) their most impressive win this season over the rival Aggies, 35-23.

"Words can't express how proud I am of this team," Smith said. "Even when we were down, we never gave up. In any loss, we never looked back. And now, we're in the top-25 because of it. That's true heart right there."

Tears running down his cheek at the press conference after the game, Smith saw his senior signal caller struggle once again in the early going. Franklin fumbled on Mizzou's first possession of the game, and threw a terrible interception in the second quarter.

But just like he's done all year long, Franklin played great in the second half. He didn't turn the ball over, and threw for two big-time touchdowns to give the Tigers the lead for good. The biggest came on a 72-yard post route by Washington, where he went across the middle and the closest Aggie defender was 20 yards away.

Washington gave the 'quiet' signal to the A&M crowd, and they listened. Mizzou was down four points after, but the Aggies couldn't find the momentum. Two plays into A&M's ensuing drive, reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was picked off by EJ Gaines, and Mizzou answered with a Marcus Lucas 11-yard touchdown to take the lead into the fourth quarter.

"I feel like I haven't said this at all this year: I'm so proud of our defense," Smith said. "To keep a guy like Manziel in check all game long is something extraordinary. Picked him off twice, sacked him six times. That's a great effort."

The six sacks on Manziel were the most by the Tigers defense this year, as were the two picks. Andrew Wilson came away with the second interception with Mizzou up 11 in the fourth quarter.

It was a ho-hum day as well for Mizzou's leading receiver, Dorial Green-Beckham. He caught three passes for 45 yards, but he eclipsed the 100-catch mark on the year, and is at 101. He still needs 254 yards to break the single season record by a receiver, but he's projected around the country as the Biletnikoff winner regardless.

"I'll take that any day of the week," Green-Beckham said. "I don't care if I only come away with one catch. For us to get a win like we did today, I'll take zero in a game if I need to."

The A&M defense did a great job containing DGB on the outside, but it was Darius White and Washington picking up the slack and providing that boost for Franklin in the passing game.

Henry Josey went over the century mark for the fourth straight game, tallying 143 yards and a touchdown. He's also nearing the top-10 nation's leaders in rushing with 1,291, and only a shade over 100 yards from Heisman Finalist, LSU running back Jeremy Hill.

"You know I talk a lot about James, but what Henry has done this last month, running the football the way he has, I'm so glad he has one more year," Smith said. "With our crop of running backs coming in, they can learn so much from him. Not just as a player, but a person."

A month ago, if you had asked anyone on the roster 'Should Mizzou be ranked right now if they finished the deal?', the response was always the same: "We don't think of it that way."

Now, the Tigers think of it that way.

"It just shows that people love how hard we've fought," Franklin said. "We're not going for the Sugar Bowl or anything, but to at least get some respect is something I love."

The Tigers will wait to see not only who they're playing, but what bowl game they'll be playing in. Depending on how the SEC Championship game goes, that could change everything. The Tigers will more than likely fall to fourth in the conference depending on how the LSU/South Carolina game goes.

Projections had Mizzou facing Michigan State in the Gator Bowl, but latest projections show the Tigers could be in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Maryland on Dec. 31.

"No matter where we go, we're going to love being there," Smith said. "We played our asses off all year long to get here. Why stop now?"


NO RECRUITS THIS WEEK. NEXT POST WILL BE BOWL GAME PREVIEW.

Season 1, Week 13: Going Bowling! Mizzou Upsets Alabama In Final Seconds

Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham catches the game-winning touchdown pass with 7 seconds to go in the Tigers' 28-24 upset win over No. 9 Alabama. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL
Missouri (6-5, 4-4) 28
No. 9 Alabama (8-3, 5-3) 24

TOP PERFORMERS
Franklin (Mizz): 15-of-20, 218 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Sims (Ala): 16-of-23, 210 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Josey (Mizz): 25 carries, 118 yards, 2 TD
Yeldon (Ala): 14 carries, 119 yards

Green-Beckham (Mizz): 6 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD
Lucas (Mizz) 3 catches, 66 yards
Norwood (Ala): 3 catches 75 yards, 1 TD
Cooper (Ala): 2 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD

Gaines (Mizz): 6 tackles, 2 INT, 1 TD
Wilson (Mizz) 7 tackles
Sunseri (Ala): 6 tackles, 2 INT
Clinton-Dix (Ala): 6 tackles


RECAP
After he threw his third interception of the game in the fourth quarter, James Franklin went back to the sidelines and hung his head.

He told his teammates that if he got another shot to win the game, he was going to do it.

"I wasn't going to leave this field this way," Franklin said. "I've given four years to this place. Only thing we could do was go after it."

They did go after it. And for the first time in three years, Missouri is going bowling.

Franklin connected with Dorial Green-Beckham on a 2-yard slant route with 6 seconds remaining to give the Tigers (6-5, 4-4) another upset victory this year by taking down No. 9 Alabama 28-24 to become bowl eligible, and giving their senior quarterback a farewell present on Senior Day.

"I still can't believe we pulled that off," Franklin said. "We beat Alabama. We beat the two-time champs."

Well, sort of. The majority of the Alabama team was there, except for linebacker C.J. Mosley and starting quarterback AJ McCarron.

Blake Sims got the start at quarterback for the Crimson Tide with McCarron out due to bruised ribs. It was clear that the offense was performing much differently than compared to Alabama's original general under center.

EJ Gaines picks off his second pass of the day and returns it for a 42-yard
touchdown in the third quarter. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

Sims' dual-threat action propelled him to 210 yards and two touchdowns but, surprising to even Missouri head coach Calvin Smith, two interceptions by senior defensive back EJ Gaines.

Gaines' second interception came on the second play of the third quarter on 2nd and 5 when Sims misread a route by Amari Cooper and took the ball 42 yards for a Tigers touchdown and a 21-13 lead.

"It's a lot different when McCarron isn't back there," Gaines said. "[Sims] was putting the ball right in my lap on both occasions. Christmas came early for me."

Sims regained his composure on the ensuing drive and found Cooper down the left sideline for a 32-yard touchdown. A 2-point conversion tied the game at 21-21 as both teams entered the fourth quarter.

Franklin struggled for the majority of the afternoon, especially when trying to hit receivers over the middle. His third interception of the day, second by Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri, came when Franklin tried to hit tight end Eric Waters in the endzone. The Crimson Tide took over at the 13-yard line and got to the 38-yard line of Mizzou. Cade Foster's 55-yard attempt hit off the left upright and bounced inside to give Alabama a 24-21 lead.

The Crimson Tide, surprisingly, struggled against the running game of the Tigers, as Henry Josey recorded another century-mark day, running for 118 yards and two first half touchdowns. Josey carried the ball the majority of the final drive before Mizzou was set in position to win the game at the 2-yard line.

"All I kept thinking was, 'Play smart,'" Smith said. "I told him to keep giving Henry the ball and let him go to work. Only throw it if he needed to."

Franklin only passed twice on the final drive. The second pass was the biggest, calling an audible at the line with the clock running down, and found Green-Beckham one-on-one on the outside for the game-winning touchdown.

Franklin's final game statistically will be forgotten with those three interceptions. It was the touchdown on a rather off day offensively that will be remembered for a long time at Faurot Field in the eyes of Smith.

"I've said it before: If we were close to undefeated, Franklin would be getting Heisman consideration," he said. "He's been clutch all year long. I'm going to miss him, big time."

In Smith's first season as Mizzou head coach, he's beaten two teams ranked in the top-15, including the two-time defending National Champions. He's built the resume to get the Tigers great bowl consideration, now that they've found a way to get win No. 6. Right now, the Tigers are projected to play in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 against Michigan State.

Win No. 7 could change that in a heart beat. To do that, Mizzou will need to take on arch rival Texas A&M, who shockingly loss to LSU, and fell to No. 8 in the rankings. The Tigers have a chance to play spoiler and could possibly knock A&M out of any contention for a BCS game.

Smith's response?

"I wouldn't mind playing spoiler," Smith said. "You know what? I'll say it: We're going into College Station and we will beat Texas A&M. We're going to be in a bowl game, and we're going to knock two of our rivals out of BCS games. We will win.


RECRUITING NEWS
Missouri has locked up a running back, but not Jon Johnson just yet.

Ron Jones, a 5-11 speedster from Oklahoma, has committed to Mizzou over Big 12 schools Oklahoma State and Texas. Calvin Smith has been going after diamonds in the rough with his recruiting, and Jones has good speed with the ability to catch passes out of the backfield on 3rd down.

The main target, of course, is Johnson, who now becomes the top prospect on Mizzou's board. It was reported by ESPN on Friday that Johnson ran a 4.25 40 during his workout the other day. His speed is now on notice, and Mizzou seems to be pulling away in that chase.

Season 1, Week 11: Mizzou Feeling Blue: Tigers Lose on Last-Second Touchdown to Kentucky

Kentucky running back Josh Clemons scores the game-winning touchdown with 3 seconds left to give the Wildcats the win over Missouri. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL
Kentucky (5-4, 2-4) 31
Missouri (5-5, 3-4) 24

TOP PERFORMERS
Smith (UK): 27-of-34, 301 yards, 1 TD
Franklin (Mizz): 24-of-28, 257 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Josey (Mizz): 22 carries, 134 yards, 1 TD

Green-Beckham (Mizz): 8 catches, 106 yards
Shields (UK): 8 catches, 117 yards

Ealy (Mizz): 2 sacks (New school record: 12)


RECAP
Calvin Smith has hardly ever taken the blame for a loss. He did this time.

Now, the Tigers, and Smith, must suffer the consequences and pull off an amazing upset if they wish to be in postseason play come December.

After a missed field goal gave Kentucky the ball, Maxwell Smith led a 66-yard drive that was capped off by a Josh Clemons 9-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left to give the Wildcats a shocking 31-24 victory over Missouri.

"That was all me," Smith said. "No one else to blame but me. I cost us that game with my decision making. I let everyone down."

The stage was set for another last-second Tigers win after Kentucky went 3-and-out with less than 3 minutes to go. Running back Henry Josey ran for 36 of his 134 yards on the final drive into Wildcat territory. On 3rd and 1, Josey was stopped at the 34-yard line, and Smith decided to bring out kicker Andrew Baggett for a 51-yard field goal.

The wind, slightly in favor of Mizzou, gave Smith the thought that his kicker could make another game winner, about 25 yards further back than the one he made against Tennessee.

Only this time, Baggett came up three or four yards short on his attempt, and the ball went back to Kentucky with 39 seconds to go.

"Deciding to run on 3rd and short was a good call, in my eyes," Smith said. "Maybe we should've punted because I thought Andrew had the leg to get it through."

Instead, Smith and the Wildcats drove down the field in 36 seconds. On 2nd and 10, Smith found Rashad Cunningham down the left sideline for a gain of 24 to put them at the 9-yard line. On the next play, running back Josh Clemons scampered from nine yards out to win the game.

Smith finished the day with 301 yards and a touchdown, as another no-huddle offense torched the Tigers' defense.

"He can throw the ball well," Smith said. "In our defense, that's how we've been all year. It just sucks to lose like that."

Franklin had another stellar game, passing for 257 yards and adding to his nation-leading yardage total. Dorial Green-Beckham had a quiet offensive output, catching eight passes for 106 yards but no touchdown catches for the first time this season.

The star for the second week in a row for Mizzou was Josey, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark: A first for a Tigers running back since 1998.

Josey's back up, running back Marcus Murphy, was injured in the first quarter with a separated shoulder. He's projected to miss the rest of the regular season, but could be back in time for a bowl game. That is, if Missouri can make it.

A win would've given the Tigers bowl eligibility, but now they have to do it the hard way. They'll take the next week off with their second bye, and then it'll be Senior Day in Week 13 when Alabama comes to town.

The defending National Champions will come to Faurot Field after they try to bounce back on the road at No. 25 Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide lost to No. 10 LSU 38-16 on Saturday, knocking them out of the top-10.

"It's all or nothing, now," Franklin said. "We're not fighting for a division title anymore. We're fighting for postseason play. And it won't be easy. But who said this season would be easy?"

Season 1, Week 10: Calling It A Comeback Again: Mizzou Comes Back From 16, Beats Tennessee

Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett kicks the game-winning 26-yard field goal with no time left of the Tigers' thrilling 20-19 win over Tennessee. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL
Missouri (5-4, 3-3) 20
Tennessee (4-5, 1-5) 19

TOP PERFORMERS
Franklin (Mizz) - 17-of-23, 134 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Worley (Tenn) - 21-of-30, 262 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Josey (Mizz) - 28 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD

Green-Beckham (Mizz) - 11 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD
Howard (Tenn) - 3 catches, 89 yards

Ealy (Mizz) - 7 tackles, 2 sacks
Johnson (Mizz) - 4 tackles, INT
Randolph (Tenn) - 11 tackles


RECAP
Down by 16 points in the third quarter, Missouri's season and postseason hopes were on the line.

Then, the Cardiac Cats struck again. The Tigers have found life.

Thanks to two second half touchdowns to bring the lead to within two points, followed by a David Johnson interception with three minutes remaining, Andrew Baggett's 26-yard field goal with no time left capped off another incredible comeback by Mizzou as it defeated Tennessee, 20-19, on a snowy Faurot Field.

"Remember those snow angels I did in Gainesville? They were real this time," said head coach Calvin Smith. "This team is as resilient as any team I've ever coached. I've never seen anything like it."

The Tigers' comeback would've been much more sweeter had South Carolina and Georgia lost on Saturday. Both teams won, and Missou's chances at gaining ground in the SEC East were grounded for another day. But the Tigers (5-4, 3-3) are now one win away from becoming bowl eligible, thanks to another improbable comeback that saw Mizzou down by double digits at halftime.

The Vols jumped out to a 13-3 lead late in the first half, but a James Franklin interception gave the ball right back to Tennessee. That was converted into the third field goal of the half for the Volunteers to push the lead to 13.

"That was a bad read on my part," Franklin said, who had his worst passing output of the year with 134 yards. "The conditions made it even worse, but you can't use that as an excuse. I didn't have enough going for me today."

A slow-paced second half saw the Tigers do what they've struggled to do all season: control the clock and get stops on defense, primarily the latter. After the fourth Tennessee field goal, running back Henry Josey saw a lot of touches on the ensuing drive, which concluded in Mizzou's leading rusher scoring on a 6-yard touchdown to bring the lead to nine points.

Josey was quiet for the last few weeks, but has lately found his groove. He gained a game-high 139 yards and that touchdown, as the senior inches closer to 1,000 yards on the season.

"I'd like to think I do better in snow," Josey said. "That's the kind of game I needed to get my confidence going."

Neither team could pull away, nor get closer for almost an entire quarter's length of football. The Tigers tried a fourth down late in the third quarter, and while Dorial Green-Beckham looked like he had the first down, a rare fumble halted the drive and gave the ball back to Tennessee.

Green-Beckham later made up for that shocking blunder by bringing the Tigers back to within two points on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Franklin to make it a 19-17 game with 3:41 to go.

And it wouldn't take long before Mizzou had the chance to win the game. On the first play of the ensuing Vols drive, quarterback Justin Worley threw an interception to Johnson and gave the ball to Mizzou at the 34-yard line. A heavy dose of Josey got the ball to the 9-yard line in all 3:41, and Baggett's kick gave the Tigers an early Christmas present.

"I was hoping so bad to make up for that fumble," Green-Beckham said. "I wouldn't be talking to y'all right now if that were the case."

Despite the slow production in the passing game, Franklin kept his spot as the nation's leading passer, as he nears closer to 3,000 yards. Meanwhile, Green-Beckham inches closer to the school record in receiving yards set by Jeremy Maclin in 2009. He leads the nation with 1,303 yards, and tied for the lead with 84 catches.

Somehow, Smith said, no matter how bad one or the other plays, they find a way to make an imapct.

"One could be having a bad day, but the other could be ready to roll," he said. "They feed off each other so well. I'm excited for the prospect of what's to come for both of these guys after this year."

Josey only needs 104 yards before reaching 1,000, which hasn't been done by a Mizzou running back since Johnny Roland set the school record in 1998. He has three more games to get to that point, and so do his offensive counterparts.

But that's not important. What's important is Mizzou going to Lexington, Ky. next week to take on a Kentucky team that came within a few plays of knocking off No. 6 Texas A&M in Lexington. Both teams are fighting for a bowl berth at this point. A win will almost certainly get Mizzou in, but a loss would mean the Tigers have to beat either Alabama or the Aggies in the final two games of the year.

As for the thoughts of a conference title spot, still a long shot. South Carolina needs to lose to both Florida and Ole Miss, Georgia needs to lose one more game, and the Tigers somehow need to win out. If the Gamecocks beat the Gators or Rebels, then they'll represent the East in the title game.

Like Smith said last week, though, they're not focusing on that.

"We need to let the chips fall as they may," Smith said. "If we somehow get lucky, let's be lucky. If not, let's fight our tails off and end this year on a good note."


RECRUITING NEWS
Four more recruits have come aboard to Mizzou, and it's the ones they've been scouting for awhile.

Nick Larson, the athlete named at the top of Mizzou's recruiting class, has come on board to join the Tigers. the 6-foot, 180-pound Hawaiian prospect can play either side of the ball and depending on where he plays, he could start from day one.

"We've liked Nick for awhile," said Calvin Smith. "We've preached versatility, and he does it all. He'll be great wherever we put him."

Also coming on board is quarterback Damon Mitchell, a three-star prospect from Denison, Texas. There was a small chance that he could've declined the offer beacuse he wanted to be close to home. But Smith sees Mitchell at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds as a possible Cam Newton-type quarterback.

Another athlete coming from Texas is Rich Johnson. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Johnson played mostly defense in high school, and he could play any position. His strong suit, at outside linebacker, could play well for Johnson if Smith decides to switch to a 3-4 defense next year.

Finally, the second defensive back to come to Mizzou is Frank Hickman, a two-star JUCO prospect from Illinois who's very fast, and could possibly see a lot of time at safety with his zone coverage prowess.

Also, according to sources, a new four-star prospect has given indication that Mizzou could be his choice of school. Jon Johnson, from Stoors, Conn., has told people within his inner circle that he likes the thought of Smith changing his scheme next year, and that he could see himself being the featured back in the next two years.

Season 1, Week 9: Cardiac Cats Crumble, Mizzou Blocked by Gamecocks

South Carolina defensive lineman Chaz Sutton picks up a fumble on a botched option play by Missouri and returns it 70 yards for a Gamecocks touchdown in the second quarter. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL 
No. 15 South Carolina (5-2, 4-2) 38
Missouri (4-4, 2-3) 31

TOP PERFORMERS

Franklin (Mizz) - 22-of-30, 355 yards, 2 TD
Thompson (SC) - 18-of-25, 240 yards, 3 TD

Josey (Mizz) - 16 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD
Wilds (SC) - 18 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD

Green-Beckham (Mizz) - 9 catches, 220 yards, 1 TD
Washington (Mizz) - 5 catches, 90 yards
Jones (SC) - 5 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD

Sutton (SC) - 1 Fumble Recovery, 70-yard touchdown
Clowney (SC) - 5 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack

Baggett (Mizz) - 3-of-3 FGM


RECAP
Down by 22 points mid-way through the third quarter, James Franklin and Dorial Green-Beckham went to work.

Big play after big play got Missouri back in the game, down seven points, within a four-minute span. It looked like another astounding comeback that was going to put Mizzou atop the SEC East with four games to go.

But that was the closest the 'Cardiac Cats' got. And now, they need some help in a big way to close the season.

Franklin had another terrific day throwing the ball with 355 yards and two touchdowns, while his counterpart Green-Beckham reeling in 220 of those yards. But the 38-31 loss that the Tigers (4-4, 2-3) suffered to No. 15 South Carolina (5-2, 4-2) was due to a plethora of things.

Head coach Calvin Smith just had to reassure that his top quarterback and wide receiver weren't the blunt of any blame.

"I swear, those two kids make my job a hell of a lot easier," he said. "Not that losing by seven makes it any better, but they got us back in this game. We just couldn't get stops when needed. Story of our season."

All in all, the Tigers played rather well by looking at the stats across the board. They outgained South Carolina 445-403, did another terrific job of converting on 3rd down opportunities going 6-of-12 and converted all four red zone opportunities.

The major difference? South Carolina made good use of its possessions, while Mizzou settled for three first half field goals by Andrew Baggett, all inside the 20-yard line. Meanwhile, Gamecocks quarterback Dylan Thompson threw three touchdown passes, who has been playing in place of Connor Shaw due to season-ending injuries.

Yet no play was bigger in the first half than with 5:29 left in the second quarter. The Tigers ran an option play with running back Henry Josey in the slot. The play was designed to pitch the ball to Josey with Franklin rolling to his right.

But Franklin was hit when he pitched the ball, and it went backwards about 10 yards before South Carolina defensive lineman Chaz Sutton picked up the ball and ran 70 yards for a backbreaking touchdown.

"That hurt," Franklin said. "That hurt me physically and emotionally. "That was an all-around bad play on my part. To think this could be a much closer game had that not happened."

With the Tigers down 22 in the third quarter, the thought of a close game wasn't relevant. Rain was coming down on the field and on the Tigers' hope to get back to contention for a spot in the conference championship game.

That's when momentum picked up. Josey took a stretch handoff to the right side and went untouched for a 27-yard touchdown. Followed by a 2-point conversion, it was a 14-point game.

After Mizzou desperately got the stop they needed, it took only two plays on the Tigers' next drive before the lead was cut to seven, when DGB beat the defensive back off the line of scrimmage on a streak route and went 71 yards for a touchdown. 31-24 Gamecocks, and the Tigers were playing the part yet again.

"There's a point in time where you know you have something special," Smith said. "We have that with Dorial. His size is astounding and it makes life tough on defense."

Mizzou had numerous chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Even when Brandon Wilds scored a 3-yard touchdown with 5:24 left in the game, Franklin responded with his second touchdown pass to Bud Sasser with 2:55 to go.

But the Tigers' defense couldn't get the Gamecocks off the field, running the rest of the clock for a victory that Smith said he should've had over his coaching idol, Steve Spurrier.

"We had a real chance to make a statement, and yet again, we couldn't do it," he said. "Now, forget about conference championships right now. We're fighting for a bowl game. And we have to climb real high for this one."

The good news for Mizzou is that "Hell Month" may have ended a week early. Mizzou returns home to take on a struggling Tennessee squad who is no longer ranked in the top-25, which was the premise of why the month of October was tough.

The Volunteers made headlines for starting the year 3-0 with wins against No. 7 Oregon on the road, and No. 19 Florida. Since then, they've lost four of their last five games and fell out of the polls as a result.

So, that's one good thing Smith has going for his team. But if they want to reach the conference title game, they need to win out (easier said than done), and need a lot of help.

"Right now, the goal is to finish the season strong," Smith said. "Hell Month is over. It's time to look at the big picture and see if we can finish big."


RECRUITING NEWS
Chalk up three more recruits coming to Mizzou next year.

Defendive back Jason Anderson, guard Tyrone Simmons and offensive tackle Chris Goins become the next batch of Tigers to join the den for the 2014 season. Last week, Joseph Pitts and Jerod Wiley became the first recruits for Calvin Smith.

Mizzou has decided early on to keep local with its recruiting, and Anderson is the highest-rated local prospect to sign with the Tigers. A three-star prospect from Maryland Heights, Anderson brings great speed to a secondary that needs it.

"Not only is he fast, but he can play man and zone," Smith said. "He's versatile, and that's what we need. I feel like I say that a lot, but it's true."

Simmons is another guy who Smith feels can be a gem. He's a bit undersized for the guard position at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, but he has good strength and is a decent pass blocker.

The one problem he needs to address is run blocking, where the Ballwin native struggled at during high school, but the fact that he can protect the quarterback is something worth noting.

Finally, Goins is a tackle who can play either side of the line and also brings a balance to his game with pass and run blocking. He also brings a lot of size: All 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds worth. If needed, he could switch to guard in a couple of years.

"Chris is one of those guys who I feel can contribute in a year or so," Smith said. "That mass he brings to the line is much needed, and whomever the quarterback is, will be safe knowing he's got him backing him up."

Five prospects will attend Saturday's game against Tennessee.

1) Nick Larson, ATH. Top prospect on Mizzou's board.
2) Damon Mitchell, QB. Scrambling quarterback prospect.
3) Tony Cross, WR. Four-star receiver with great athleticism.
4) Rich Johnson, ATH. Another one of Smith's gems with great speed.
5) Ron Jones, HB. Has become Mizzou's top choice at running back.

Season 1, Week 8: UPSET: Mizzou Beats No. 12 Florida in Triple Overtime

Mizzou running back Henry Josey scores the game-winning touchdown for the Tigers in the third overtime of their 51-48 upset victory over previously-ranked No. 12 Florida. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL (3 OTs) -
Missouri (4-3, 2-2) 51
No. 12 Florida (3-3, 2-3) 48

TOP PERFORMERS
Franklin (Mizz): 28-of-39, 399 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Murphy (Fla): 23-of-29, 216 yards, 3 TD

Jones (Fla): 18 carries, 103 yards
Josey (Mizz): 27 carries, 82 yards, 2 TD

Washington (Mizz): 12 catches, 192 yards, 1 TD
Green-Beckham (Mizz): 11 catches, 163 yards, 2 TD
Dunbar (Fla): 7 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD
Burton (Fla): 4 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD

Roberson (Fla): 7 tackles, 2 INT
Watkins (Fla): 12 tackles
Gaines (Mizz): 12 tackles
Webb (Mizz): 9 tackles

RECAP
When Missouri lost to LSU earlier this year, head coach Calvin Smith looked up at the sky in disbelief.

This time, he could look up at the sky and fall on his back, doing snow angels on the sideline of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

In a game where the Tigers were once down by 18 points in the third quarter, James Franklin's 399-yard performance and L'Damian Washington's almost-200-yard performance rallied Mizzou back, and Henry Josey's 2-yard touchdown run in the third overtime capped off the unthinkable upset with Missouri defeating Florida, 51-48.

"That was the best snow angel I've ever made in 100-degree heat," Smith said. "Hell felt like paradise after that one. That was one of the best college football games I've ever been apart of."

A packed house of almost 90,000 Florida fans saw their Gators storm to an 18-point lead midway through the third quarter, and it quickly looked like the Tigers were to be dealt another humiliating conference loss. But after two first-quarter interceptions, Franklin settled into a groove behind his two favorite targets: Dorial Green-Beckham and Washington.

On 4th and goal at the 2-yard line late in the third quarter with Mizzou down 28-10, Franklin threw a fade route to DGB, and he used all of his 6-foot-5 frame to come down with the touchdown to cut the lead to 12 points after a missed 2-point conversion.

The Tigers were able to stop Florida on its next possession, and with 5:43 left, Franklin connected with Washington on a perfectly-thrown 41-yard touchdown to cut the Florida lead to 28-23.

"Those guys bail me out, week in and week out," Franklin said. "L'Damian was all over the place today catching everything I threw, and DGB is as reliable as they come. I knew if I got them the ball in the right spots, they'd deliver."

It wouldn't be long before Franklin called DGB's number again. After Florida extended the lead to eight points and Marcus Murphy returned the ensuing kickoff to the Gators' 30-yard line with less than 1:30 to go.

Two plays later, Franklin found Green-Beckham in the endzone for the second time of the second half on a 17-yard touchdown. The senior quarterback hit Washington on the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 31-31, and eventually sent it into overtime.

"Marcus hasn't been getting those lanes to make dangerous plays in the kicking game," Smith said. "He picked a great time to make something happen."

Both teams exchanged touchdowns in the first two overtimes. Tyler Murphy, who's currently the starter due to Jeff Driskel's injury, threw two touchdowns, while Franklin ran for two touchdowns to send the game to a third overtime, tied at 45-45.

The next five minutes during Florida's possession were described as the most tense moments of Smith's coaching career. With teams required to go for two in the third overtime, the Tigers needed a stop, and got it on a deflected pass by EJ Gaines in the endzone.

"That's something I never want to go through again," Smith said. "I almost puked five times during that drive."

Florida settled for the field goal, and Mizzou wasted no time marching down the field and eventually won the game with Josey's 2-yard touchdown on 2nd and goal.

Somehow, to Smith's delight, the Tigers found a way to win a road game during hell month, but they'll have to do it all again in Week 9 when they travel to take on No. 15 South Carolina. For now, Smith is happy the Tigers are sitting at 4-3 with two more wins from getting back to a bowl game.

And with the win, Mizzou is 2-2 in conference play, and have leapfrogged Florida to third in East. The Gamecocks come into this game at 3-2 in conference, and a win along with a Georgia loss to these same Gators could put Mizzou atop the East with four games to go by the end of next week.

"Never in my wildest dreams could we have imagined to be in this position," Smith said. "We control our own destiny right now in the SEC. Of course, Georgia is the only team standing in our way. But this game gave us so much confidence. We're right back in the thick of things."

RECRUITING NEWS:
The Tigers have locked up their first two recruits under head coach Calvin Smith, both JUCO players.

Outside linebacker Joseph Pitts (1-star) and offensive tackle Jerod Wiley (1-star) have committed to play for the Tigers for the 2014-15 season.

Pitts has the tools to be a successful gem for Smith's defense, which could switch to a 3-4 next year. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound linebacker from Jennings, Mo. has quality speed to chase down the ballcarrier, and was known as someone to have a good sense for how the play develops.

"He's a smart kid," Smith said. "We like his size, but especially his speed. The way he can move around like that comes naturally to him."

Wiley seems to be another gem that Smith thinks is a good project. At 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds, Wiley was one of the top-200 tackles rated in the country from Spanish Lake, Mo. He's a balanced lineman who does well in the pass and run, which is why Smith values him.

"In this conference you need to play both the run and pass," Smith said. "We're changing things up next year, and we feel he's a quality guy to bring along and groom."

Season 1, Week 7: Gurley, Bulldogs Dominate Tigers

"Hell Month" has begun, and Missouri feels like its in hell right now.

Head coach Calvin Smith has tried to motivate his guys to be ready for the start of this period of four straight ranked opponents through the month of October.

"Welcome to hell," he said. "Population: Missouri Tigers."

It was a field day for No. 14 Georgia (4-2, 3-2) on Saturday, led by Todd Gurley's 220-yard, two-touchdown performance with the Bulldogs cruising to a 38-24 victory over the Tigers (3-3, 1-2).

Add that with James Franklin throwing five interceptions during the worst game of the season thus far for Mizzou, and it was an all-around bad day on both sides of the ball. The Tigers gained more yardage than their opponent once again (456-394), but every interception by Franklin resulted in points for Georgia.

"I'm disgusted with myself," Franklin said. "To have the season like I've had and to throw it all away with a game like that is absolutely pitiful. We had the chance to hang tough with a good team, and I screwed it up. Simple as that."

Franklin completed 20-of-36 passes for 299 yards, but the majority of those yards came late in the game with the Tigers attempting a furious comeback down 21 points. Dorial Green-Beckham had another solid outing with nine catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, but he was quiet for the majority of the first half with only three catches.

The 105 yards is the lowest output of the season for DGB, who continues to climb the nation's leaderboard in each receiving category and make a case for the Biletnikoff Award.

Despite a rough day for Franklin, Mizzou found its groove in the running game with Henry Josey rushing for 137 yards on 25 carries. The Tigers have struggled over the last few games running the ball with Josey, but Mizzou's offensive line did well in making running lanes.

"He's not the fastest, but he's one of the smartest," Smith said about his running back. "He knows when things are coming to him and how effective he can be when he's patient. When he's on, we're just as good of a football team."

Meanwhile, in terms of the Bulldogs' dominant running game, the hype surrounding Aaron Murray quickly shifted over to Gurley with his breakaway speed and prowess to find the endzone. The SEC's fourth leading rusher is up to 638 yards on 36 carries less than the conference's leader, Jeff Scott of Ole Miss.

Murray played well, going 15-of-20 for 188 yards, but the sophomore Gurley stole the show with the highest output from an SEC running back this season.

"That kid has wheels," Franklin said. "Just watching him from the sidelines, it was insane to realize he's a sophomore. He may be 6-1 and weighs 232, but he's got speed on him."

And now, it's time to hit the road for "Hell Month" when the Tigers travel to Gainesville, Fla. to take on No. 12 Florida. The good news for Mizzou? The Gators are banged up, and in an important way.

Florida will be without quarterback Jeff Driskel for the next two weeks with an abdominal tear, left guard Max Garcia with a broken wrist and sophomore defensive end Jonathan Bullard is out with a dislocated ankle.

Driskel suffered that abdominal tear on Nov. 28 in a 31-28 win over Kentucky. Junior quarterback Tyler Murphy started the last two games for the Gators in a 34-6 win over Arkansas, and a 31-26 loss to LSU.

"No matter who's at quarterback, we need to come out ready to roll," Smith said. "We need to somehow win. That's all.