Tigers interceptions key sixth straight win

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Missouri football team was in a jubilant state after its 38-21 win against Big 12 Conference foe Texas Tech on Saturday.

Players and coaches hugged each other, gave high-fives and yelled with joy as they entered the locker room.

David Overstreet, a senior captain for Missouri, yelled “We are for real, baby,” while Willie Moore, a sophomore safety, looked at members of the media and said, “six-and-oh baby.”

With the win, Missouri is bowl-eligible, and it is 6-0 for the first time since 1973.

Missouri’s defense showed why it had the No. 2 total defense entering Saturday’s game in Lubbock, Texas.

“We made a big statement,” Xzavie Jackson said. “We were the No. 1 defense at one point, and we showed why we were the No. 1 defense.”

The Tigers scored twice on interceptions and recovered three fumbles. All five of the Red Raiders’ (4-2, 1-2) turnovers were by quarterback Graham Harrell, who was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week last week.

The most recent time Missouri had five turnovers in a game was on Oct. 11, 2003, when the team upset No. 10 Nebraska 41-24. In that game, the Tigers had one interception and forced four fumbles.

“I’m very proud of my football team. I thought it was a very good team victory,” Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. “It was a football game where turnovers, as they usually do in games, can dictate the flow of the game, and without question this one was that.”

The Tigers, who led 24-0 at halftime, came into the game knowing their secondary would be tested by Texas Tech’s prolific passing offense, and the secondary and the whole defense responded.

The second quarter was crucial for Missouri, now 2-0 in the Big 12.

Xzavie Jackson and Moore both turned Harrell interceptions into touchdowns in the second quarter. The interceptions were Harrell’s third and fourth of the season.

Jackson’s interception, the fifth of his career, came on a first and 10 from the Red Raiders 20-yard line. He returned it 17 yards for a touchdown.

“The O-line kind of blocked me, and I looked up, saw the quarterback kind of looking at me, and, shoot, was like ‘Man please don’t throw the ball to me,’ and he let it go.” said Jackson, a former receiver. “I was like tight end days. Lets take it to the house.”

On Texas Tech’s next offensive play, Moore returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown. The scores took a combined 28 seconds.

Dedrick Harrington, who had 10 tackles, said the two interceptions for touchdowns were beautiful things.

“That’s just being athletic,” Harrington said. “Those are the plays we need in big games like this. Without that, the game could have gone tons of different ways.”

For Pinkel, the interceptions were a new feat.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Pinkel said. “I’ve done this (coaching) for 30 years and have never seen back-to-back plays that were interceptions for touchdowns.”

Pinkel, however, has seen something close to it. Last year, against Iowa State, Moore and Jackson also scored on back-to-back possessions. Against the Cyclones though, Moore returned a Bret Meyer interception for 62 yards, while Jackson returned a Jason Harris fumble for 16 yards. Those touchdowns were 44 seconds apart.

Jackson said he and Moore didn’t talk about the touchdowns, despite the importance of the plays.

“Those plays, it happened back to back. It’s over with now,” Jackson said.

Jackson, however, did recall last year’s Iowa State game.

“If you look at last year we did the same thing against Iowa State,” Jackson said. “We just go out there and have fun every down. Whatever happens someone (has) to turn it up the next play. Willie Mo stepped up and made a big play and got in the end zone (today).”

Marcus Bacon, Lorenzo Williams and Jackson all forced fumbles for Missouri. Bacon’s forced fumble, which was recovered by DeMarcus Scott, turned into the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game on a Tony Temple 1-yard run. It was Temple’s first touchdown of the year.

Darnell Terrell, a junior cornerback, led all players with 12 tackles.