Kentucky running back Jonathan George runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Missouri got touchdowns off all three of Kentucky’s lost fumbles and quarterback James Franklin presided over a strong finish in a reserve role coming off a knee injury as the Tigers earned a long-delayed first win in their debut SEC season with a 33-10 victory on Saturday.
Kendial Lawrence ran for 108 yards on 23 carries with two TDs for Missouri (4-4, 1-4), which overcame its own sloppiness, too, after getting last week off following a 32-point loss at home to top-ranked Alabama. Marcus Murphy fumbled his first two punt-return attempts and Corbin Berkstresser was intercepted on consecutive passes by freshman J.D. Harmon to start the second half before getting replaced by Franklin, who was limited in practice this week after missing most of the previous two games with a strained left knee.
Raymond Sanders scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter for Kentucky (1-8, 0-5), which has lost seven in a row. The Wildcats produced just three points off three turnovers.
The game was still up for grabs, with Missouri leading 17-10 midway through the third quarter, when Franklin got the call. The junior was a steadying influence although he was much better when he just handed it off.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson ran 60 yards to the Kentucky 25 after stripping the ball from Jonathan George to set up the game’s first touchdown. Zavier Gooden recovered a fumble at the Kentucky 12 after Brad Madison and Will Ebner combined to sack Patrick Towles early in the fourth quarter to set up a 9-yard run by Marcus Murphy and E.J. Gaines skirted the sideline on a 13-yard return off Frank Sanders’ fumble for a 33-10 cushion with 8:45 to go.
Harmon’s first career interception gave Kentucky possession at the Missouri 33, but the Wildcats netted minus-12 yards with an offensive pass interference call before punting it back. Craig McIntosh, who made a 43-yard field goal in the first half, was wide right on a 47-yard attempt after Harmon’s second pick near midfield.
The interceptions were Kentucky’s first in five games.
Missouri totaled four fumbles in the first half but lost just one. Berkstresser fumbled twice but recovered both of them.
Lawrence’s second score came with 1:32 to go and capitalized on a fumbled snap on a 53-yard field-goal attempt by Kentucky that wasted Demarco Robinson’s 27-yard return of a 27-yard punt. Richardson sacked holder Jared Leet, who recovered the ball after mishandling the snap and had attempted to roll out.
Freshman Dorial Green-Beckham caught two passes on the go-ahead drive, the first receptions for the nation’s top recruit last winter since catching an 80-yard touchdown pass against Central Florida in Week 5.
Kentucky had plenty of success with cutback runs its first two drives, rolling up 115 yards, but finished with just 179 yards.
NOTES: Country singer David Nail, bending as many notes as possible, sang the National Anthem. … Sanders’ 24-yard carry matched his season high. … Missouri has forced a turnover in 26 consecutive games. … Kentucky CB Cody Quinn (hamstring) and Missouri CB Kip Edwards (strained neck) left with injuries in the second half.
MISSOURI 33, KENTUCKY 10
Kentucky 7 3 0 0 — 10
Missouri 10 7 3 13 — 33
First Quarter
Mo_Lawrence 5 run (Baggett kick), 9:32.
Ky_Sanders 1 run (McIntosh kick), 8:01.
Mo_FG Baggett 44, 1:18.
Second Quarter
Ky_FG McIntosh 43, 12:17.
Mo_Lawrence 2 run (Baggett kick), 1:32.
Third Quarter
Mo_FG Baggett 31, :49.
Fourth Quarter
Mo_Murphy 9 run (kick blocked), 14:12.
Mo_Gaines 13 fumble return (Baggett kick), 8:09.
A_67,853.
Ky Mo
First downs 9 20
Rushes-yards 34-101 47-186
Passing 78 87
Comp-Att-Int 10-22-0 16-27-2
Return Yards 3 15
Punts-Avg. 7-39.3 4-33.0
Fumbles-Lost 6-3 4-1
Penalties-Yards 5-40 2-15
Time of Possession 23:34 36:26
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING_Kentucky, Sanders 11-64, George 9-37, Whitlow 6-15, Mobley 5-12, Team 1-(minus 12), Towles 2-(minus 15). Missouri, Lawrence 23-108, Murphy 8-43, Hansbrough 7-37, Berkstresser 6-1, Team 3-(minus 3).
PASSING_Kentucky, Whitlow 9-18-0-76, Towles 1-4-0-2. Missouri, Berkstresser 10-18-2-71, J.Franklin 6-9-0-16.
RECEIVING_Kentucky, D.Robinson 3-56, Sanders 3-0, Legree 1-7, King 1-6, George 1-5, Sweat 1-4. Missouri, Green-Beckham 7-25, McGaffie 4-40, Lawrence 3-7, Moe 1-8, Washington 1-7.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
9 Responses to Missouri beats Kentucky 33-10 for 1st SEC win
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We had no offensive identity. I was confused with the sudden qb change after the first 2 drives. Seemed like the momentum was going good and then it went nowhere. Towles looked rusty and whitlow couldn’t do much in the 2nd half. Along with bizzare punt call after running into the kicker just added to our miseries.
The punt and accepting a five yard penalty after the flag was thrown was the nail that should seal the box used to plant the Joke !! A 52 yard punt, almost zero return and the head coach accepts the penalty with what outcome? Why would anyone accept that five yard penalty, still have two yards to go for a first down and then expect your FRESHMAN punter to equal or exceed the previous effort.
Maybe it was the fact that Missouri had made some very effective adjustments on the defensive side of the ball and the Joke came up with his usual—-nothing. Nothing to counter the scheme that the Missouri staff put in place after UK had played a good first half. If I go on and try to describe the two great interceptions by another FRESHMAN corner and the resultant zero off of the kids efforts I’ll make the wife mad.
This has got to be addressed senor Barnhart. It is too pathetic to allow it to continue !!!!
Hard to dispute anything posted here. Very poor effort and lot of questionable coaching calls today
welp! That one does it for me. These Cats try to fight, and they do. There is just no good direction.
Randy Sanders should gain an interest in fishing, it’s working well for Brooks. I can only think that the college game has passed him by. At one time he may have been a great QB coach and/or play caller but, I don’t really see it anymore.
All I really want, is for somebody to give me a few statistics since Joker and Sanders have been calling plays. Most of the stats I want have to do with Bubble screens (and flares). That is to say, any pass behind the line of scrimmage.
I want to know how many times we have thrown those passes and what the yardage gained and lost is. That is the only way to show them that it is not a good play.
I appreciate our players and am sad that they have to experience a fanbase that is fed up with the UK program that they play for. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of those guys that work so hard for our Team, now and in years past.
And one more thing: reading the tea leaves here with Eli, I’m not really getting the impression that he is very focused on the football program and says that he isn’t even aware of a financial package proposal being put together or that has come across his desk.
I want some answers, I’m not a donor, and I don’t live in the state where I can go to games. But I have damn sure invested enough emotion and care into this program to deserve some answers on what they ARE GOING TO DO. Not what they want to do. I can’t imagine what it’s like for the donors and ticket buyers.
And Mitch has to have cojones to keep asking the big boys for money year after year.
I hate to sound like a broken record but…………….Pitiful. Just Pitiful..
Some of the coaching decisions just make you go………hmmmm.
Pitiful.. Just Pitiful.
And some of the coaching decision just make you go…..hmmmm.
I see what you did there RJ
Well i see the moratorium on telling the truth has been lifted after last weeks feel good moral victory. Clearly Georgia had Florida on there minds.