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Mizzou Football: Five things to watch vs Purdue Boilermakers

By Leigh Oleszczak

COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 08: The Missouri Tigers mascot, Truman, sprays fans with water prior to the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 08: The Missouri Tigers mascot, Truman, sprays fans with water prior to the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Purdue Boilermakers running back D.J. Knox (1)  (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Purdue Boilermakers running back D.J. Knox (1)  (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH VS PURDUE

NUMBER 2 – PURDUE RUNNING GAME TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET

As I alluded to on the Missouri defense slide, they’ll have their work cut out for them when it comes to stopping Purdue’s run game. The Boilermakers absolutely gashed Eastern Michigan last week with 341 yards off of 42 carries and found the end zone once. Those guys kept Purdue in the game until the bitter end.

D.J. Knox led the Boilermakers in rushing with 21 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown while Markell Jones also showed off with the football to the tune of 109 yards off of 12 carries. Purdue rushed for just over 200 yards in their season opener against Northwestern, so it wasn’t just a one-hit wonder for them last week.

To this point, Missouri has limited the opposing run game to 94 yards vs UT-Martin and 88 yards vs Wyoming. Holding Wyoming to just 88 yards was likely helped by the fact that Nico Evans didn’t play, but all Missouri can do is stop who’s on the field. It’s not their fault the Cowboys’ best weapon wasn’t available to play.

Purdue will bring the toughest group of running backs the Tigers have faced this season, but if they can slow the Boilermakers down, Purdue doesn’t stand a chance in this game.

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