| 116th Border War Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | November 24, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Arrowhead Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 80,537 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ABC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2007 Missouri vs. Kansas football game was a college football game held in Kansas City, Missouri between the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers, two Big 12 teams that have shared a long and bitter rivalry against each other. This edition of the series was especially important as it was the first time that both teams entered the game ranked in the top 5 of both the AP and Coaches' Polls and thus had national championship implications. The game saw #3-ranked Missouri defeat #2 Kansas, upon which they earned a trip to the conference championship, where they subsequently lost to the Oklahoma Sooners.
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ESPN named the game their game of the week and Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium hosted ESPN College Gameday, as the undefeated Kansas Jayhawks tried to remain unbeaten as they faced the one loss Missouri Tigers to decide who would go on to play Oklahoma for the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game and potential #1 BCS ranking on the line following a loss by #1 LSU the previous night, the first #1 BCS ranking for either school. Lee Corso used his famous mascot head selection to pick the Tigers over the Jayhawks. In the most hyped game ever of the historic rivalry, the Tigers triumphed over the unbeaten Jayhawks and went on to earn the #1 BCS ranking as expected.[1]
Both teams came into the game with impressive statistics. The Jayhawks entered 11-0 and ranked 2nd in the both the AP and BCS polls.[2] Missouri came in with a 10-1 record and ranked 4th in the BCS and 3rd in the AP.[2] Starting their season with a six point win, the Missouri Tigers were undaunted, with only one 31-41 loss to Oklahoma at Norman. The Missouri Tigers were bound to go to the national championship, if they had won that game, although, they didn't, damaging their greatest season ever. The Kansas Jayhawks were unranked from the start of the season, and they were one of 2007’s biggest surprises. After routing the Nebraska Cornhuskers 76-39 at home (the most points ever scored on the Cornhuskers[3]) they played the Iowa State Cyclones at home and beat them 45-7. The victory gave the their first 11-0 record in school history.[4]
The Missouri Tigers received the ball first. But, even though they had decent field position, they couldn’t score. The first quarter was mostly dominated by defense. Missouri held Kansas scoreless, and the Jayhawks only allowed one touchdown, a 1-yard pass to martin Rucker on 4th and goal. This put the Tigers up 7-0. The high-scoring Jayhawks were allowed 391 total yards, to Missouri’s 519.
During the second quarter, Chase Daniel connected to Danario Alexander for an 11 yard touchdown, making it 14-0. Kansas kicker Scott Webb missed two consecutive field goals, vital points which could have made this an 8-point deficit going into halftime. Todd Reesing was sacked for an eleven yard loss, fumbled, but was recovered, staving them from total disaster. Scott Web missed his second field goal here, to the cheers of many Tiger fans. Mizzou's Jeff Wolfert however was perfect, with two field goals and four extra points which made the difference. Early in the third quarter, Missouri running back Jimmy Jackson scored a 1-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0. But the tide changed after a long pass from Todd Reesing down to about the one-yard line of Missouri. From here Brandon McAnderson ran to the left for a 1-yard touchdown. This made it a 21-7 deficit. The last points scored in the third quarter were by the Missouri freshman Derrick Washington, with a three yard run, making it a 28-7 game, going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kansas mounted a comeback, trimming the lead to 34-28. The Tigers being forced to punt, punted down to the Jayhawk’s eleven-yard line. Todd Reesing took the snap, but was sacked in the end zone by the Tiger’s Lorenzo Williams. Reesing finished 28-49 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Chase Daniel was 40-49, with three touchdowns and 361 passing yards.
After this game, the Missouri Tigers were ranked 1st in both the BCS and AP polls, with Kansas falling to 5th and 7th respectively. The Tigers would go to San Antonio to play Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship. Even though the Tigers won and played in the championship game, the Big 12 named the two teams co-champions of the north division and awarded both with trophies.[5]
The Big 12 Championship Game was a 38-17 rout in favor of Oklahoma, who would play West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. As a result of the loss, the Tigers would go on to play Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl Classic and beat them 38-7. Missouri tailback Tony Temple broke the all time rushing record in the Cotton Bowl Classic and ran for four touchdowns.
The Kansas Jayhawks went to the 2008 Orange Bowl (their first BCS bowl) and defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies, 24-21.
The Missouri Tigers finished 12-2, while Kansas completed their season 12-1. These were the two coaches' best seasons, and one of the most memorable Border Showdowns since 1960.
MU 7 KU 0: TD Chase Daniel passed to Martin Rucker down the middle for 1-yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)
MU 14 KU 0: TD Chase Daniel passed to Danario Alexander to the right for 11-yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)
MU 21 KU 0: TD Jimmy Jackson rushed up the middle for 1-yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)
MU 21 KU 7: TD Brandon McAnderson rushed to the left for 1 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 28 KU 7: TD Chase Daniel passed to Derrick Washington to the right for 3 yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)
MU 28 KU 14: TD Todd Reesing rushed to the right for 5-yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 31 KU 14: FG Jeff Wolfert kicked a 43-yard field goal
MU 31 KU 21: TD Todd Reesing passed to Dexton Fields to the left for 10 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 34 KU 21: FG Jeff Wolfert kicked a 43-yard field goal
MU 34 KU 28: TD Todd Reesing passed to Marcus Henry down the middle for 5 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 36 KU 28 SY Todd Reesing sacked for a safety