COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou survived a second-straight fourth-quarter collapse.
Corbin Berkstresser rushed for a score touchdown in his first start as the Missouri Tigers (2-1, 0-1) 24-20 victory Saturday night against the Arizona State Sun Devils in Columbia. Berkstresser replaced James Franklin, who missed the game because of a sore shoulder.
"We were very conservative and at the end we were conservative," said Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel. "We felt we were going to have to win with our defense, and that's why we made decisions from that standpoint. There were a lot of different things out there."
Missouri started strong. The Tigers built a 17-7 lead at halftime thanks to good field position. The two Tigers touchdown drives started at Arizona State's 18-yard line.
Mizzou started the second-half strong with another touchdown drive from running-back Kendial Lawrence. But Arizona State would not go away.Â
"They never dropped their head," said Arizona State Head Coach Todd Graham. "I'm very proud of how our team played tonight and responded to adversity."
The Sun Devils scored touchdowns on two-straight fourth-quarter drives. However, place-kicker Alex Garoutte missed the extra-point on the second touchdown. That would prove costly.
Twice, Arizona State threatened to take the lead under five minutes to go in the game. Missouri's defense stood tall when it needed it. E.J Gaines tipped a pass away on a fourth-down and goal-to-goal play. Kenronte Walker intercepted a thir-down pass from Sun Devils quarterback Kelly Taylor.
Berkstresser was 21-of-41 for 198-yards. He added another 25-yards on the ground. Running-back Kendial Lawrence rushed for 62-yards and those two touchdowns.
Missouri returns to Southeastern Conference play Saturday at No. 8 South Carolina.Â
"It's a big game and we're looking forward to it," said Walker. "Being in the SEC, every game is a big game."
Kickoff against the Gamecocks is at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
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