Missouri holds off Minnesota in Citrus Bowl
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Maty Mauk rebounded from two early interceptions to lead the 16th-ranked Missouri Tigers over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 33-17, in the Citrus Bowl.
Mauk completed 12-of-19 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers (11-3), who recorded 11 wins for the fourth time in program history. He also carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards and a score.
Marcus Murphy carried the ball 12 times for 157 yards for Missouri, which has won its last three bowl games. Russell Hansbrough rushed for 114 yards and a score on 15 carries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bud Sasser caught seven passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns in the victory..
Mitch Leidner completed 21-of-31 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown for the Gophers (8-5), who have dropped their last seven bowl games.
Maxx Williams caught seven passes for 98 yards and a score for Minnesota, which played in a New Year's Day bowl for the first time since 1962. David Cobb rushed for 81 yards on 21 carries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Our future is good but it's disappointing, and it will hurt, but we move on and we can't take away from -- we haven't gone here in a long, long time," said Minnesota coach Jerry Kill. "And I thought our kids would be a little bit tight today, and they weren't. They went out and played hard. so it's another step then and we've just got to keep moving forward."
The game started with two Mauk interceptions and a fumble by Leidner. Minnesota put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive following Mauk's second interception. Rodrick Williams Jr. capped the march with a 20-yard TD run.
Missouri pulled off a successful fake punt early in the second quarter. Defensive lineman Harold Brantley took a direct snap and ran 19 yards for a fresh set of downs. But the Tigers punted for real when faced with a 4th-and-4 from the Minnesota 39.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Tigers started their next drive past midfield and Hansbrough ripped off a 21-yard run. However, Missouri settled for a 21-yard Andrew Baggett field goal.
Missouri scored a touchdown five plays into its next possession. Mauk ran 20 yards to the Minnesota 25 before hooking up with Sasser for a touchdown.
The Tigers recovered an onside kick to open the third quarter. Baggett made a 33-yard field goal to make it 13-7 Missouri.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Golden Gophers responded with a quick score to take the lead. Williams leaped over two defenders before diving into the end zone for a 54-yard score.
But Missouri capitalized on a muffed Minnesota punt. Three plays later, Mauk ripped off an 18-yard TD run to give the Tigers a 19-14 lead.
Jalen Myrick returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to the Missouri 43. However, Minnesota settled for a 38-yard Ryan Santoso field goal with 7:22 left in the third.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Tigers went ahead by nine, 26-17, on Hansbrough's 78-yard TD run with 9:22 remaining in the fourth. On the next Missouri possession, Murphy ran for 69 yards before Sasser caught a 7-yard TD pass.
Game Notes
Missouri leads the all-time series, 5-3-1 ... The Tigers improved to 15-16 in bowl games all-time, while the Golden Gophers fell to 5-12 in the postseason ... The Tigers, champions of the SEC Eastern Division, racked up 434 yards of total offense.