Tigers Torch UAPB 54-14, Simmons Throws 4 TDs in Opener

Missouri opened its season in dominant fashion Thursday night, cruising past Arkansas-Pine Bluff 54-14 at Memorial Stadium in front of 63,609 fans. The Tigers jumped out early and never let up, piling up 562 total yards behind a four-touchdown night from quarterback Austin Simmons.

Missouri wasted no time asserting control. Simmons found Shaun Terry II for a 25-yard touchdown just under six minutes into the game, then connected with Donovan Olugbode from 14 yards out before the first quarter ended, staking the Tigers to a 14-0 lead.

The second quarter was even more lopsided. Jamal Roberts punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, and after a UAPB fumbled-snap safety made it 23-0, Simmons and Olugbode struck again — this time from 35 yards. Simmons capped his night with a 47-yard strike to Cayden Lee, and Blake Craig added a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the half. Missouri went into the locker room up 40-0.

Simmons finished the game 17-of-19 for 252 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, a 270.4 passer rating. Olugbode led all receivers with 8 catches for 116 yards and 2 scores.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff finally got on the board in the third quarter when Za’Marion Webber capped a 7-play, 80-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 40-7. Backup quarterback Matt Zollers took over for Missouri and led a methodical response, eventually punching it in himself on a 5-yard keeper to make it 47-7 early in the fourth.

UAPB answered right back — quarterback Jack Schierholz hit David Brewer IV for a 16-yard touchdown to trim it to 47-14 — but Missouri’s Preston Hatfield closed the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run to set the final margin at 54-14.

Missouri out-gained UAPB 562 yards to 198 and controlled the clock for nearly 34 minutes. The Tigers converted 6 of 10 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs, while scoring touchdowns on 4 of 5 red-zone trips. Jamal Roberts led Mizzou’s ground game with 47 yards and a score on 13 carries.

For UAPB, Webber was the offensive bright spot with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 7 carries (8.0 avg), while Brewer IV added 2 catches for 29 yards and a score through the air.

Missouri’s defense forced a fumble and racked up six tackles for loss, while UAPB’s defense also generated six TFLs but couldn’t slow the Tigers’ passing attack, which finished 26-of-33 for 357 yards and four touchdowns.

Missouri improves to 1-0 on the season; Arkansas-Pine Bluff falls to 1-1.