Tue Jan 1 16:19:38 2008

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Missouri crushes Arkansas behind Temple's record-setting effort

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Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Tony Temple rushed for 281 yards and four touchdowns, both Cotton Bowl records, as No. 7 Missouri trounced No. 25 Arkansas, 38-7.

Temple accomplished both feats on 24 attempts, breaking the old mark of 265 yards and three scores set by Rice's Dicky Maegle in 1954. Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel completed 12-of-29 passes for 136 yards with one interception for Missouri (12-2), which rebounded from a disappointing blowout loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. Will Franklin had five grabs for 77 yards, and William Moore had an interception return for a score and a forced fumble for the Tigers, playing in their first New Year's Day bowl since 1970, and their first Cotton Bowl since 1946.

Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden, the focus of questionable media reports in the past few days regarding a sports utility vehicle he owns, gained 105 yards on 21 carries with a score for Arkansas (8-5). Casey Dick was 19-of-32 for 197 yards with one interception, and Peyton Hillis had five catches for 52 yards. Arkansas' other talented running back, Felix Jones, rushed 10 times for 45 yards.

The Razorbacks played the game under interim coach and defensive coordinator Reggie Herring. Former head coach Houston Nutt left his post after the regular season to take over at Ole Miss, and Bobby Petrino, who left his job as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons on December 11 to take the head job at Arkansas, watched from the stands.

In the days leading up to the Cotton Bowl, reports circulated in various media sources that McFadden was in possession of a new sports utility vehicle that agent Mike Conley helped him purchase. Arkansas released a statement Monday, however, clearing McFadden and declaring him eligible for the bowl.

McFadden, a potential first-round pick in April's NFL Draft was upstaged by Temple, who shattered two records that had stood for 54 years.

The Razorbacks tried to catch the Tigers with a surprise on-side kick to open the second half, but Missouri recovered and capitalized on the good field position. A 15-yard Daniel completion to Jeremy Maclin followed by a 19-yard Temple run set Missouri up at the Arkansas 13. Three plays later Temple burst through for a four-yard touchdown run, and Missouri took a commanding 21-0 lead just 1:22 into the second half.

The Arkansas faithful in the stands finally had a reason to cheer when Jones took a screen pass from Dick and sliced through the Tigers defense for a 41- yard gain later in the quarter, but Moore caught up with the Arkansas back and ripped the ball out from behind. The Tigers recovered at their 38, dodging another bullet.

Moore then put the Razorbacks in a 28-0 hole when he picked off a tipped Dick pass and ran it in from 26 yards out with 7:37 to play in the third quarter.

McFadden finally got Arkansas on the board, capping a 10-play, 71-yard drive by breaking several tackles on the way to a three-yard scoring run, making it a 28-7 game with 3:08 left in the third.

A Jerell Norton muffed punt at the Arkansas 11 set up Jeff Wolfert's 32-yard field goal, and pushed the Tigers lead to 31-7 with 10:25 left in regulation.

Then Temple iced the win and his record-breaking day by cutting, spinning, and running his way to a 40-yard touchdown with 8:33 remaining, giving the senior back both the rushing mark and the TD mark.

The Razorbacks had a chance to score first after driving to the Missouri 18 on the opening drive of the game, but Alex Tejada pushed his 35-yard field goal try wide right.

The Tigers broke through late in the first quarter. Daniel hit Franklin for gains of 22 and 12 yards on consecutive plays, and Temple burst through for a 22-yard scoring run on the next play, giving Missouri a 7-0 lead with 2:29 left in the quarter.

Temple gashed the Arkansas defense for gains of 22 and 38 late in the second quarter, and followed up the latter with a four-yard plunge into the end zone, giving the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 4:34 remaining in the first half.

Arkansas answered with a drive to the Missouri 19, but Jones was stuffed for no gain, and two Dick incompletions forced another field goal try. Tejeda was wide left, though, this time from 37 yards out, and the Tigers took a 14-0 lead into the intermission.

Game Notes

Maegle set the previous rushing marks in Rice's 28-6 win over Alabama in the 1954 Cotton Bowl. Maegle is perhaps more famous for what happened to him on his second touchdown of that game, a 95-yard run down the Alabama sideline that was interrupted by the Crimson Tide's Tommy Lewis, who came off the bench and tackled Maegle. The play was ruled a touchdown...This was Missouri's third straight bowl appearance and fourth in five seasons under coach Gary Pinkel. Previously, the Tigers had been to only two bowl games in a span of 19 years from 1984-2002. Overall, Mizzou has been to 25 bowl games, posting an 11-14 record...The Razorbacks are 11-22-3 all-time in bowl games.