Orlando’s Citrus Bowl sees New Year Day victory for Missouri over Minnesota
In front of some 48,624 fans, Orlando’s Citrus Bowl saw Missouri defeat Minnesota 33 – 17 on New Year’s Day.
In truth, the game was far closer than the scoreline suggests and it wasn’t until midway through the last quarter that Missouri, ranked #16, exerted their dominance over Minnesota, ranked #25.
Missouri (11-3) won its third straight bowl game to reach 11 victories for the fourth time in team history.
Minnesota (8-5) trailed by 19-17 entering the fourth quarter, but Missouri pulled away on Hansbrough’s 78-yard touchdown run and Maty Mauk’s 7-yard scoring pass to Bud Sasser.
Missouri beat the Gophers at their own game by running for 337 yards and winning the turnover battle. Minnesota fumbled five times and the Tigers recovered three of them. Running backs Marcus Murphy and Russell Hansbrough made several long runs late in the game that helped boost Mizzou’s average to 7.5 yards per carry and helped close out the win.
The best play of the game turned out to be Minnesota’s final lead of the day and came on a 54-yard touchdown reception by all-Big Ten tight end Maxx Williams. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Williams went airborne to get to the end zone. He hurdled one defender in stride at the 15-yard line and launched himself over another to get across the goal line. The score gave the Gophers a 14-13 lead early in the third quarter.
More photos at FloridaLeisurePhotography.com
