"no downward spiral"

[Eric the Red]

no downward spiral

 

Tigers see no downward spiral

 

By MIKE DeARMOND

The Kansas City Star

 

COLUMBIA — Martin Rucker put the best spin on it he could.

 

He denied, rather eloquently, that Missouri’s 45-35 loss Saturday night to New Mexico created a whole lot of “Here We Go Again” in the MU locker room.

 

“The attitude in there was not ‘Oh no, here we go again,’ Rucker said. “It’s ‘Oh, here we go.’ ”

 

Really? That’s not what happened last year after Missouri lost unexpectedly at Troy in week two and then went into a seasonlong spiral that ended 5-6.

 

“That’s what happened last year,” Rucker said, emphasizing the past tense. “The team felt that a little bit. But we’re just trying to get things back on track. Everybody’s pulling together.”

 

Ultimately, there was no getting around it. This one hurt like Troy.

 

Quarterback Brad Smith was as good as he’s ever been, perhaps better. He ran 29 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns. A holding penalty took away a fourth rushing TD. But he got it right back, throwing to freshman tight end Chase Coffman for a 12-yard TD, one of 33 completions on a night when Smith threw an incredible 55 times.

 

But all of that, ultimately, was a sidelight to the struggles of Missouri’s defense, whichworked all week to stop Lobos running back DonTrell Moore. They wound up not only beaten by Moore but also by wide receiver Hank Baskett and the inability to stop simple sweep plays by wide receiver Marcus Smith and quarterback Kole McKamey.

 

Moore finished with 94 yards in 20 rushes and completed a 41-yard halfback option pass for a TD to Baskett, who had 209 yards in catches and two scores. Smith gained 57 yards on eight receiver sweeps. And McKamey finished with 41 yards rushing to go with 188 yards passing and three touchdowns.

 

“It’s pretty tough, man,” said defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams. “We came in not really prepared. When you don’t get the adjustments at halftime, those things happen.”

 

Williams did extend the circle of blame.

 

“It’s us,” he said. “It’s everybody. Not just the coaches. We’re playing the game.”

 

And so now — on Saturday in Columbia — Missouri faces Troy again.

 

Are these Tigers capable of gathering themselves and defeating the team that kicked off the ruin of their season a year ago?

 

“Our team now, compared to last year, is a lot closer,” Williams maintained. “We took a hit. But we’ve still got (nine) games to play. We’ll go in, look at the film, make the corrections and come out next week ready to play.”