Missouri Ground Game Overwhelms North Texas for Homecoming Win

The Missouri Tigers offense put up big numbers on the ground in a 48-35 win over the North Texas Mean Green Saturday.

After falling 62-24 to Tennessee last week, the Tigers flipped the script and jumped ahead early en route to their third win of the season. Running back Tyler Badie got things started a minute and a half into the game.

Mike Kelly with the call from Learfield on the Tiger Radio Network and 99.9, The Captain. Badie would find the endzone again in the first quarter, this time on a reception touchdown from Connor Bazelak.

Mizzou led 14-0 after the first. The Mean Green got on the board two minutes into the second quarter, but that was the only score for North Texas in the first half. Bazelak found JJ Hester for a 41-yard touchdown before Badie would break off another big run.

Badie rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in the first half alone, and finished the game with 17 carries for a career high 217 yards. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz was impressed with his running back’s performance.

North Texas outscored Mizzou 28-17 in the second half. A 40-yard interception return for touchdown for Mekhi Wingo and a 60-yard rushing touchdown by Dawson Downing capped off the scoring for Mizzou, but Drinkwitz says the defense must progress.

Missouri wraps up a three-game homestand next week against Texas A&M, while North Texas travels to face Marshall.