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The Alamo Bowl 2008
Missouri 30 |
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Needing the extra period because Jeff Wolfert missed a 49-yard field goal in the final seconds of regulation, Daniel connected with Jeremy Maclin on a 7-yard touchdown pass on the fourth play of overtime then celebrated with his teammates after MU’s beleaguered defense stopped the Wildcats with a game-clinching defensive stand (video).
In overtime, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, the game’s defensive MVP, and safety William Moore sacked Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher for a 23-yard loss on third and goal from the 8. A play later, Moore knocked down Bacher’s fourth-down desperation heave in the end zone, setting off a wild celebration on the field, including fireworks, confetti and balloons.
Weatherspoon, who has submitted his named to the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, announced after the game that he’ll be back for his senior year in 2009. His roommate, wide receiver and return specialist Jeremy Maclin, who was voted the game’s offensive MVP, didn’t make the same promise, saying he’ll consult with coaches and family before deciding on his football future.
Maclin caught seven passes for 39 yards and a touchdown and also visited the end zone on a 75 yard punt return with a minute left before halftime (video).
On the night he turned 21, Weatherspoon finished with 17 tackles, including 2 1/2 behind the line of scrimmage.
Daniel’s final game at Missouri ended triumphantly but it was among his least prolific games over the last three years. He completed 27 of 44 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions, coming one short of matching Paul Christman’s single-season MU record set in 1938.
A senior class as decorated as any in Missouri’s recent history came to Texas hoping to save face on a season few figured would end before the calendar flipped to 2009. But a 4-4 finish dealt the Tigers (10-4) the earliest bowl date on the Big 12 Conference’s lineup and an opponent in Northwestern that has neither a signature player nor victory.
Both those details were lost on a Missouri team hungry to break a two-game losing streak and salvage its squandered season. The Tigers returned to the site of last season’s defeat in the Big 12 championship game having gone 43 days without tasting a victory, their longest in-season drought since 2004.
The first quarter was eventful for MU’s Moore. First, he slipped trying to cover slot receiver Eric Peterman down the left seam, leading to Peterman’s 35-yard snatch and run to the end zone. A series later, Moore seemed to salvage his misstep with a strip of Tyrell Sutton on the end of a 43-yard screen pass. Stryker Sulak recovered the fumble for Missouri, an offsides penalty on Moore erased the takeaway. Northwestern eventually punted on the possession.
After going scoreless in the first quarter for the third consecutive game, the Tigers ended a 14-play drive with Wolfert’s 31-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter.
Northwestern drove deep into MU territory on its next possession- thanks to a couple MU penalties, including Brian Coulter’s second for jumping offsides- but stalled near the goal line. Amando Villarreal booted a 21-yard field goal, extending NU’s lead to 10-3.
Daniel threw his second interception of the first half on Missouri’s ensuing possession, bringing his season total on 17. With blitzing safety David Arnold flushing him out of the pocket, Daniel tried lofting a pass out of bounds, but defensive end Corey Wootton made a diving interception in the flat. The Wildcats, though, couldn’t capitalize as Villarreal pushed a 47-yard field goal try wide left.
Back-to-back rare miscues by wideout Tommy Saunders doomed MU’s next series. First, what would have been a first-down reception was waved off when Saunders was flagged for illegal touching, having run out of bounds before the catch. A play later, on third and 3, Saunders dropped an easy pass.
The Tigers turned back the clock to Aug. 30 on Northwestern’s first series of the second when coverage breakdown along the sideline led to an easy Wildcat touchdown. Just like Illinois’ Juice Williams did multiple times in MU’s season opener, Bacher and Rasheed Ward scorched a Tigers’ defensive back, this time it was corner Carl Gettis, for a 46-yard strike down the sideline (video). Villarreal doinked his PAT attempt off the right upright, leaving the score 16-10.
The Tigers took their first lead on a stomach-turning 12-play drive that included three third-down conversions and a 4-yard run by Daniel on fourth-and-1. Daniel finished the drive with a third-down touchdown pass to Danario Alexander for 11 yards (video), with Wolfert’s PAT giving MU its first lead with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
Brock Christopher’s interception of Bacher set up another Wolfert field goal, a 43-yarder to push Missouri’s lead to 20-16.
Daniel’s interception binge continued with another late in the third quarter when safety Brad Phillips jumped a sideline route for Tommy Saunders, setting up the Wildcats on MU’s 24. Three players later, Bacher connected with Ross Lane on a 23-yard touchdown pass that was reviewed and upheld. Snatching the pass behind a leaping Kenji Jackson, Lane dragged his right foot in the back of the end zone before tumbling out of bounds, swinging the lead back to Northwestern, 23-20 as the third quarter came to a close (video). |
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Coffman (10) carries the ball behind two offensive linemen. |
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Bacher threw for 304 yards. |
Sutton carried for 116 yards. |
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Maclin got loose for a 75 yard punt return in the second quarter. |
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Danario Alexander helped Missouri keep pace with an 11 yard TD reception in the third quarter. |
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Lane's sensational catch in the back of the endzone put Northwestern on top in the 4th quarter. |
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Maclin caught the game-winner in OT. |
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Cartoon by Columbia Daily Tribune editorial cartoonist, John Darkow. |
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Attendance: 55,986
Scoring Summary
First Quarter NU- Peterman 35 yard pass from Bacher (Villarreal kick)
Second Quarter MU- FG Wolfert 31 NU- FG Villarreal 21 MU- Maclin 75 yard punt return (Wolfert kick)
Third Quarter NU- Ward 46 yard pass from Bacher (kick failed) MU- Alexander 11 yard pass from Daniel (Wolfert kick) MU- FG Wolfert 43 NU- Lane 23 yard pass from Bacher (Villarreal kick)
Fourth Quarter MU- FG Wolfert 37
OT MU- Maclin 7 yard pass from Daniel (Wolfert kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing MU- Washington 15-44, Maclin 5-43, Daniel 9-33 NU- Sutton 29-116, Bacher 10-16
Passing MU- Daniel 27-44-200 NU- Bacher, C.J. 27-43-304
Receiving MU- Coffman 7-67, Maclin 7-39, Saunders 6-33, Alexander 3-29, Perry 2-9 0 7 NU- Ward 7-101, Peterman 7-83, Lane 5-77, Sutton 5-29, Brewer 3-14
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SAN
ANTONIO (AP)- Chase Daniel’s Missouri football career came full circle
on the field of the Alamodome Monday night. Three years after guiding
the Tigers to come-from-behind overtime victory against Iowa State as a
true freshman, Daniel did it again in his final collegiate, this time
overcoming an otherwise miserable finale to pull MU from behind in a
30-23 overtime victory over Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. 
