Live Wire Blog

Tigers blank Buffaloes

Posted on Oct. 27, 2008 by Ryan Gavin

Tight end Chase Coffman makes a spectacular catch in the back of the end zone. Photo by Shane Epping.

The Tigers got back in the win column Saturday against Colorado—emphatically, with a 58-0 beatdown of the Buffaloes.

It was Colorado’s first shutout loss in 243 games, a span dating back to a Nov. 12, 1988, game against Nebraska. It’s Mizzou’s first shutout victory since 2004, when the Tigers dismantled Ball State 48-0. Going back to last season’s 55-10 win, the Tigers (6-2, 2-2 Big 12 Conference) have scored 108 unanswered points against Colorado (4-4, 2-2).

“It’s a fun business when you’re winning football games,” MU coach Gary Pinkel said following the game. “There’s a time when your pride is going to be hurt by how you play. [Saturday] we got that back. It was our best focused effort of the season.”

The defense held the Buffaloes to 199 total yards, by far the unit’s strongest showing this season. It limited Colorado runners, the team’s strength, to just 41 yards on the ground. Even most of the passing yards were accrued against the second stringers near the end of the game.

“It’s very hard to get back on track after losing two games,” defensive lineman Jaron Baston said. “All the ‘what-ifs’ go through your mind. We went back to basics. We came together as a family to get our pride back. We took it personal.”

The offense wasn’t exactly slouching out there, either.

Chase Coffman set an NCAA record for receptions by a tight end. With seven catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, he now has 220 receptions in his career. He has moved past Louisville’s Ivn Ruiz, who had 217 catches from 1996 to 1999.

“I’m glad I got to do it with a win so I can celebrate with my teammates,” Coffman said.

Quarterback Chase Daniel was at it again, too. He went 31-for-37 with 302 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. His 83.8 completion percentage sets a new school record, and the five touchdowns ties the school record he already owns.

“The whole week in practice, we were so much more focused,” Daniel said. “It was a business-like atmosphere. We had something to prove to ourselves.”

With the victory, the Tigers moved up in the Bowl Championship Series standings to No. 14 and are also No. 14 in the coaches and media polls. This weekend, Mizzou travels to Baylor for an untelevised 2 p.m. game against the Bears.

Near the end of the game, freshmen Laura Scott (left) and Holly Brethorst concluded that a Colorado buffalo didn’t pose the same threat as a Texas steer to a Missouri tiger. Photo by Shane Epping.