Rapid Reaction: Beau Pribula shines as Mizzou routs Central Arkansas
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Beau Pribula was outstanding in his debut, Ahmad Hardy ran with a fury, and the Mizzou defense swarmed.
Mizzou opened the 2025 season Thursday night with a 61-6 win over Central Arkansas. The Tigers were less than 60 seconds away from a second consecutive season-opening shutout, not allowing a defensive score until just 22 seconds remained on the clock.
The 61 points were the most Mizzou has scored in a game since scoring 65 on Oct. 20, 2018, and the margin was the largest in a win for the program since beating Delaware State by 79 points in 2016.
Pribula got the scoring started for Mizzou on his first pass attempt of the game. He connected with wideout Marquis Johnson on a 49-yard strike to put the Tigers up 6-0. Pribula also scored on a 31-yard run midway through the second, then hit Brett Norfleet for a 1-yard touchdown right before halftime. Pribula scored again on a quarterback keeper from 1 yard out in the third quarter to put Mizzou up 40-0.
An early injury to quarterback Sam Horn meant Pribula handled the offense entirely until coach Eli Drinkwitz pulled his starters in the fourth. Horn had been battling with Pribula for the starting job in fall camp and was expected to split time on Thursday night. He was spotted on crutches with a cast over his right leg later in the evening.
That was the only cloud on an otherwise perfect evening for the Tigers.
Mizzou averaged 8.1 yards per play and held Central Arkansas under 4 yards per play. The Tigers were 9-for-13 on third down and held Central Arkansas to 2-for-14. Penalties were an issue, but the Tigers were perfect in the red zone and didn’t turn the football over.
The Tigers will turn their attention next to border rival Kansas. The Jayhawks come to town for a 3:30 p.m. ET kick next Saturday.
Missouri 61, Central Arkansas 6
Here’s the Missouri-Central Arkansas box score (use the dropdown menu to select team or player stats), followed by the complete play-by-play:
Beau Pribula vs. Luther Richesson
A statistical breakdown of how Mizzou quarterback Beau Pribula outperformed Central Arkansas quarterback Luther Richesson. (The dropdown menu allows you to compare other position, too):
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
