No. 21 Missouri cruised past UMass 45-3 on Saturday, earning its fifth victory of the season.
The Tigers never trailed after Luther Burden III scored on a 61-yard jet sweep less than a minute into the game.
“That first play that Luther scored on, I think he set the tone,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said.
Burden’s touchdown sparked a dominant rushing performance, with Missouri totaling 231 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Marcus Carroll, a Georgia State transfer, rushed for 91 yards and three scores in his first start of the season.
Burden accumulated 68 rushing yards and added five catches for 59 yards, moving into seventh all-time in Missouri history in receptions. However, he left the game in the third quarter with an injury and did not return.
Drinkwitz provided no update on Burden’s status, saying only, “(The) SEC injury report will be (out) Wednesday.”
Quarterback Brady Cook bounced back from a rough outing against Texas A&M, completing 14 of 19 passes for 219 yards and
two touchdowns. Cook also rushed for 16 yards.
Missouri’s offense had 461 total yards, with four different players scoring touchdowns. Joshua Manning and Brett Norfleet joined Burden and Carroll in the end zone.
The Tigers’ defense recorded three sacks, including one from true freshman Williams Nwaneri, and held UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh to 12-of-22 passing with an interception.
Missouri (5-1) returns home to face Auburn on Saturday, seeking its sixth win and bowl eligibility.
