Beau Pribula made a strong first impression as Mizzou’s starting quarterback, throwing for two touchdowns and running for two more as the Tigers took care of the Central Arkansas Bears on Thursday, Aug. 28 by a 61-6 score on Faurot Field, to start the Tigers’ 2025 campaign.
Four minutes into the game, the graduate transfer from Penn State made his first pass attempt a memorable one, a 49-yard pass to Marquis Johnson. Pribula would connect with Brett Norfleet just before halftime for his second touchdown pass. The Tigers scored on all their possessions in the first half, including two Blake Craig field goals from 49 and 55 yards.
Pribula would finish the night 23-for-28 with 283 yards in the air and 65 yards on the ground, including his two touchdown scampers from the 31 and the one. Ahmad Hardy led the rushing game with 100 yards, including a four-yard dash to paydirt. Johnson led the air attack with five catches for 134 yards, while Jude James caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from freshman Matt Zollers in the fourth quarter. Marquise Davis added a three-yard run, while Dante McClellan returned an interception 83 yards for Mizzou’s final score. Central Arkansas got on the board with 22 seconds remaining on a three-yard pass from Luther Richesson to Manny Smith.
Pribula ended up with more reps than initially planned, as a result of an injury to Sam Horn on Horn’s first play of the season. Horn, who was anticipated to lead the offense in the second half, jumped in for a design play late in the first quarter, but was injured by the tackle at the end of his six yard run. He would not see any more action in the game, with Zoellers leading the offense for Mizzou’s final four drives.
The Tigers start the season 1-0, with their 11th straight home victory and a 20-game win streak at home against non-conference opponents. Mizzou now prepare for the resumption of their bitter archrivalry against Kansas, with the Jayhawks making the drive east on Interstate 70 on Sept. 6. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m., with pregame at 12:30 p.m. on KMMO-FM 102.9.