One down, one to go.
Lock passed for 257 yards and two touchdowns to lead Missouri to a 50-17 win at Tennessee on Saturday, the eighth consecutive win for the Tigers in the month of November.
All that remains for the Tigers to reach that 8-4 record, and a bid to an attractive bowl game, is to beat Arkansas – the last-place team in the SEC East – at home on Friday in Columbia.
Lock led the Tigers on touchdown drives on four consecutive possessions, three in the second quarter, to take control of the game against a Tennessee team which needed a win to become bowl eligible.
The third of those touchdown drives came in the closing seconds of the second quarter after an interception by DeMarkus Acy, his first of two in the game, and a 76-yard return to the Volunteers’ 8-yard line. It turned a 19-10 Missouri lead into a 26-10 halftime advantage,
After Tennessee again closed within nine points early in the third quarter, Lock engineered another touchdown drive, followed by a 39-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Joshiah Bledsoe which gave the Tigers a commanding 40-17 lead.
Lock completed 21 of 30 passes, and also had a couple dropped by his receivers. Emanuel Hall had four catches for 74 yards while Larry Rountree III gained 135 yards on 26 carries, including a 2-yard touchdown run.
Lock’s touchdown passes both came in the second quarter, an 8-yarder to Dominic Gicinto and a 3-yarder to Johnathon Johnson.
The win was especially meaningful for Missouri offensive coordinator Derek Dooley, who was coaching his first game at Tennessee since he was fired as the head coach after three seasons in 2012.
The Tigers have won four of their last five games, with their only loss coming on the final play against Kentucky after time expired but a penalty gave the Wildcats one extra play.
POST-GAME AUDIO
Barry Odom
Drew Lock
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