Each Monday morning, we will take a look back at three moments that changed the game the previous Saturday. They may be good or bad for Mizzou, but we'll pick the three plays that shaped the outcome and take a closer look at them.
It is admittedly difficult to find three plays that define a 35-3 game that was never really even as close as that score, but we've picked the three that we think shaped the blowout.
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Witter stopped on 3rd & 1, 9:20, 1st quarter
Missouri is trailing 7-0 with a defense that had shown little resistance on the Boilermakers' opening drive. The Tigers needed something in the form of an answer on offense.
After a jet sweep and a short pass, the Tigers were in third and one. They lined up with three receivers all to the left and a tight end attached to the line. Missouri had six blockers, Purdue had five defenders on the line of scrimmage.
Ish Witter was the tailback to Drew Lock's left in the shotgun. Purdue didn't get any immediate penetration at the snap, but Missouri didn't get any push up front either. By the time Witter got the ball at the 33, the Boilermakers had pushed the line of scrimmage back about a yard. Tight in Jason Reese was beaten to the inside by defensive end Austin Larkin, who took Witter down with a little help from linebacker T.J. McCollum.
The Tigers' first drive lasted three plays, nine seconds and a little over a minute. The defense was immediately back on the field.
2nd and 21, David Blough to Tario Fuller for 25 yards, 6:21, 1st quarter
After a false start and a holding penalty, Purdue faced 2nd and 21 at its own 39 on its second drive of the game. It had seemingly given Missouri's defense a chance to get a stop and get back in the game early on.
Mizzou was in a four-man front with Purdue lining four receivers (including a tight end) split out wide right. Tario Fuller was to David Blough's left in the shotgun.
At the snap, tight end Cole Herdmann goes across the middle. Outside linebacker Kaleb Prewett follows Herdmann, who blocks middle linebacker Cale Garrett as Fuller leaks out of the backfield and turns to the right side of the field with two blockers leading the way.
Nate Anderson applies pressure, but Blough gets the short pass off to Fuller. Garrett has been taken out of the play and Prewett is on the complete opposite side of the formation having followed Herdmann. Fuller catches the pass three yards behind the line of scrimmage, but now has a convoy of three blockers without a Tiger defender within ten yards.
Defensive tackle Kobie Whiteside has diagnosed the play, but simply can't catch Fuller. He is untouched until he has passed the first down marker. The end result is a 26-yard gain that gives the Boilermakers a first down inside the Tiger 40 before safety Thomas Wilson makes the tackle. Purdue's three linemen didn't even have anyone to block for 20 yards.
Fuller would run 36 yards on the next play to make it 14-0 Purdue and the rout was on.
Richaud Floyd muffs punt, Purdue recovers, 8:22, 2nd quarter
It is 21-0 before Missouri's defense gets its first stop of the day, forcing a Boilermaker punt from the 9-yard line following a sack by Garrett.
Missouri replaced Johnathon Johnson with Richaud Floyd as the punt returner after Johnson's struggles against South Carolina. Joe Schopper hits a good, but not exceptional punt. Floyd settles under it in plenty of time at the Missouri 47-yard line.
Boilermaker wide receiver Malcolm Dotson is the gunner on the left side of the formation and isn't touched by freshman cornerback Adam Sparks. As Floyd gets ready to field the punt, Dotson is closing in on him. Sparks makes contact, getting a block to knock Dotson out of the way about a yard in front of Floyd and to his left.
Neither player makes contact with Floyd prior to the ball coming down. It bounces off Floyd's chest and a split second later Dotson hits Floyd's right leg, knocking him down as the ball caroms forward. A Purdue player hits the ball, sending it backward about seven yards toward the Missouri goal line. Dotson jumps up and beats Sparks to the football, pouncing on it for the recovery.
Purdue did not end up scoring on the drive, but the play was indicative of the day to come for Missouri. The Tigers did absolutely nothing right. From that point on, there was little hope Missouri could make this a game.
