Missouri 24, South Carolina 10: Drew Lock's first career start is a win

True freshman Drew Lock's first career start went about as well as could be expected. Lock went 21/28 for 136 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He even finished with 7 runs for 0 yards. Mizzou quarterbacks under Gary Pinkel improve to seven for seven and remain undefeated in their first career starts.

Six of the seven quarterbacks also rushed for a touchdown in their first start, Chase Daniel, the only one who didn't, happened to set the Mizzou single game touchdown record (5) in a win over Murray State in 2006. Maty Mauk was conspicuously absent from Mizzou's pregame warmup video.

Aarion Penton vs Pharoh Cooper, Pharoh Cooper has 6 catches for 87 yards in the first half, at least two of those catches have come against Aarion Penton although Mizzou has rotated Ian Simon over him on some downs and South Carolina has moved Cooper all around the field to give him options. Pharoh Cooper finished with 9 catches for 102 yards but zero touchdowns.

Mizzou's defense recorded 3 interceptions (Kenya Dennis, Ian Simon and Walter Brady). Marcell Frazier had 1 sack and Kentrell Brothers shared a sack with Donavin Newsom. Mizzou finished with 7 tackles for a loss.

First Half

Mizzou's second drive went 11 plays for 51 yards, Drew Lock went 4/5 for 34 yards including an 8 yard TD pass and a 9 yard run on 4th down.

Drew Lock 8 yard touchdown to Nate Brown

Drew Lock 8 yard TD pass to Dowtown Nate Brown pic.twitter.com/os2uiCDcvT

— W.E.B. BLOGGER (@oscargambler) October 3, 2015

Second Quarter

Terry Beckner Jr. was ejected early in the second quarter for a targeting call against South Carolina QB Lorenzo Nunez. It was a bad call.

Drew Lock 9 yard touchdown pass to Downtown Nate Brown put Mizzou back on top 17-10.

Drew Lock 9 yard TD pass to Downtown Nate Brown pic.twitter.com/WaHBaMlDlI

— W.E.B. BLOGGER (@oscargambler) October 3, 2015

Second Half

Third Quarter

South Carolina started the second half with the ball but Kenya Dennis made an interception to kill the drive.

Kenya Dennis INT! pic.twitter.com/2lREi3uzg1

— W.E.B. BLOGGER (@oscargambler) October 3, 2015

Russell Hansbrough limped off the field early in the 3rd quarter. Drew Lock nearly threw a pick 6. But South Carolina threw three consecutive interceptions, the last by Walter Brady setting up a short field and Ish Witter dives in for a touchdown.

THATS THAT GOOD ISH, Witter with the 1 yard TD run pic.twitter.com/DwUosOVyVk

— W.E.B. BLOGGER (@oscargambler) October 3, 2015

Fourth Quarter

Walter Brady contributed to the Lorenzo Nunez's bad day with this third interception:

Walter Brady with the INT! #DLineZou pic.twitter.com/Z3nzH0aY3B

— W.E.B. BLOGGER (@oscargambler) October 3, 2015

Drew Lock in the second half only complete 7 passes, completion 4 for 21 yards. Mizzou has 59 yards on 19 plays in the second half. Ultra conservative.

South Carolina converted a fourth down despite the most blatant holding on Walter Brady... ever?

If that isn't the most blatant holding call on Walter Brady pic.twitter.com/sRudlkvxM6

— W.E.B. BLOGGER (@oscargambler) October 3, 2015

Late in the fourth quarter, Russell Hansbrough reached 2,000 career rushing yards on a 1 yard gain for a first down. He finished the game with 11 rushes for 43 yards. Ish Witter finished with 17 carries for 98 yards and 1 TD. Tyler Hunt had 3 carries for 17 yards. Chase Abbington even had 1 rush for 9 yards.

Injuries

Kentrell Brothers, hobbled by an ankle and knee injury, still managed 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs in the first half.

WR DeSean Blair (concussion protocol), RT Nate Crawford (ankle), and TE Sean Culkin (right knee)  were all held out for the game. Morgan Steward was ruled out for the remainder of the season and Mizzou will pursue a medical redshirt for him.

Where do we go from here?

Mizzou hosts Florida for Homecoming next Saturday at 6:30 pm (SEC Network).

Box Score

Box Score Hero

Jason Reese, had 6 catches for 47 yards. Nate Brown had 6 catches for 33 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tie.