The top five single-game Mizzou wide receiver performances since 2000

The Missouri Tigers have had plenty of big games over the years, and some big performances from their wide receivers have contributed to that. Here’s a look back at the top five single-game wide receiver performances since 2000 (Note: the importance of each game factored in the order)

No. 5: Justin Gage vs Baylor – November 10^th, 2001:

In Gary Pinkel’s first season as Missouri’s head football coach, the Tigers needed three wins in their last three games in hopes of bowl eligibility for the first time since 1998. Missouri was in need of a win against a 2-6 Baylor team coming in and the Tigers needed a huge performance, just so that the fan base can get excited about the future. It was Justin Gage who delivered in a big way.

With a 41-24 victory in the final home game of the season, Justin Gage balled out. Gage totaled 13 receptions for two touchdowns and 236 yards as Missouri got their fourth win of the season, and third in Big 12 conference play.

The Tigers didn’t make a bowl game in Pinkel’s first season, but Gage’s 236 yards still holds today as Missouri’s record for most receiving yards in a single game.

No. 4: Dorial Green-Beckham at Kentucky – November 9^th, 2013

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

In their second season as a member of the Southeastern Conference, Missouri entered a road game at Kentucky needing just three more wins to clinch an SEC East title. The ninth ranked Tigers did exactly what they needed to against a two-win Kentucky team.

That afternoon in Lexington, Maty Mauk seemed to only find his favorite target: of the five touchdown passes he threw, four of them were delivered to Dorial Green-Beckham.

From Dave Matter’s game story:

“Today, he was a man out there,” Josey said of Green-Beckham. “And nobody was going to stop him.”

Yeah, nobody really stopped him. In a convincing 48-17 win, Missouri improved to 9-1 (5-1 SEC) and Green-Beckham completely dominated with seven receptions, 100 yards, and four touchdown catches. This was remembered as “The DGB Game”.

No. 3: Jeremy Maclin at Kansas State – November 17^th, 2007

Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images

Missouri was one week away from playing arguably their biggest game in program history. All the Tigers had to do was take care of a 5-5 Kansas State team on the road. Trap game, right? Just don’t tell Jeremy Maclin that.

Mizzou entered Manhattan as the sixth ranked team in the country, and the redshirt freshman from Kirkwood was ready to make a big impact. In fact, Maclin made a bigger impact record-wise.

Missouri beat Kansas State 49-32 to improve to 10-1 (6-1) on the season. It was the first time the Tigers won in Manhattan since 1989 – and Maclin was a huge reason why, contributing for nine receptions, 143 yards, and two touchdowns. It was the third consecutive game Maclin had over 100 receiving yards and at least one touchdown catch.

At the time, Maclin set the single-season freshman record for all-purpose yards in that game.

“Jeremy Maclin scored three touchdowns and had 252 total yards to set the NCAA single season freshman record for all-purpose yardage, helping Missouri (No. 5 BCS, No. 6 AP) set up one of the biggest college football games this season with a 49-32 victory over Kansas State on Saturday.”

No. 2: Danario Alexander vs kansas – November 28^th, 2009

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

It was a record setting day for senior Danario Alexander, playing in his last Big 12 conference game as a Missouri Tiger. Hopes of a third consecutive Big 12 North title were all but over but there was still plenty to play for as the Tigers were searching for one more Border War victory for this senior class.

Looking to seek revenge after the 2008 loss, Alexander made sure that the Tigers weren’t going to lose to the Jayhawks again. Missouri beat kansas 41-39 for their third consecutive win, finishing the regular season with a record of 8-4 (4-4).

Alexander’s incredible 2009 season went out with a bang as he finished this game with 15 receptions, 233 yards, and a touchdown.

Alexander’s performance comes in at No. 15 in our latest 20 for 20 series.

No. 1 L’Damian Washington at Georgia – October 12^th, 2013

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Looking to make their first real statement since joining the SEC, Missouri went into Athens, Georgia with a 5-0 record and a No. 25 ranking next to their name. The Tigers were ready to make some real noise, but they needed some big-time performances in order to pull off the upset on the road against the No. 7 ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

L’Damian Washington’s production in this game would definitely qualify as a big-time performance. Washington played a huge role in Missouri’s 41-26 upset victory “Between The Hedges”, contributing for seven receptions, 115 yards, and two touchdowns.

None were bigger than the “Colt 45” play, as it was Bud Sasser who found L’Damian Washington in the endzone.

This game was truly the beginning of Mizzou’s success in the SEC their first couple of years, and Washington’s performance was a huge reason why.