Initial thoughts: Mizzou beats Central Arkansas 61-6

As the first game of the Tiger football season comes to a close and Mizzou beats Central Arkansas 61-6, here are my initial thoughts.

But first, here is a box score.

1. Beau Pribula is a legitimate QB

It comes with bad news for Sam Horn, but Beau Pribula showed one way or another that he has to be Missouri’s starter going into next week.

Even with the Tiger offensive line looking pretty bad during the first half (though much better in the second), Pribula was making plays. He was making the best of bad situations for touchdown runs, finding receivers in areas the Tigers haven’t been able to hit the past couple of years and extending plays throughout.

I was very impressed with his performance basically start to finish.

Even if Horn is healthy, he’s the guy moving forward.

2. Ahmad Hardy is electric in space

We didn’t get to see a lot of it in the first half. But after the break, and with the improvement of some run blocking in front of him, Ahmad Hardy showed why he was so highly rated in the transfer portal.

If he gets an inch of space, he can make plays.

He ended with 10 carries for 100 yards, largely coming on a 44-yard run on a pitch sweep. And his horse-riding touchdown celebration could become a fan favorite if he goes to it regularly.

The Tigers used a lot of rotation in the backfield. Jamal Roberts got eight carries and Tavorus Jones took three of his own, let alone the 10 Pribula kept. But I expect that to learn more toward Hardy moving forward.

3. Damon Wilson is a beast

This really just comes off the two sacks he had in the third quarter.

He didn’t end up having an incredible day, but those two plays showed the ability he brings to the Tiger defensive end room.

The group as a whole didn’t get a ton of time to shine. Central Arkansas only threw 11 passes with the first-team defense out there and a lot of those were quick RPOs or three-step drops.

But when the Bears had to pass a couple of times, Damon Wilson was able to get by guys quickly and wreak havoc.

There were also a couple of plays where Nate Johnson and Zion Young where just a heartbeat late on a sack.

I think the defensive end room is going to be as good as advertised.

4. The offensive line has to be better

The offensive line was a worry coming into the game. But I didn’t think it would be that big of an issue against the Bears.

The second half was much better, so maybe it was just needing a half to gel together a bit. But if the Tigers put up a performance like that next week, it’s going to be bad.

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