Missouri runs away from Minnesota in fourth quarter for Citrus Bowl win

In Missouri's final game of the regular season against Arkansas, the Tigers controlled the second half via a powerful rushing game. With the Missouri passing game struggling like it had often in 2014, the Tigers went to the run game late in Thursday's Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.

And it paid off once again as the Tigers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns thanks to big runs en route to a 33-17 victory over Minnesota.

Missouri entered the quarter leading the Gophers 19-17. After Minnesota punted, RB Russell Hansbrough ripped off a 78-yard touchdown run on the Tigers' fifth play of the drive to put Missouri up 26-17.

The Gophers worked the ball into Missouri territory after getting the ball back, but facing a fourth-and-17 with seven minutes left, Minnesota made the somewhat curious decision to punt. The kick went into the end zone, netting the Gophers just 28 yards of field position.

On Missouri's first play, RB Marcus Murphy ripped off a 69-yard run. Three plays later, QB Maty Mauk hit Bud Sasser for a second touchdown and a 33-17 lead.

The Tigers ripped off 340 yards on the ground, as both Murphy and Hansbrough went over the 100-yard mark thanks to their big gains. Murphy finished with 157 yards while Hansbrough finished with 114.

However, the offense sputtered early in the game thanks to those passing game woes. Mauk threw two interceptions on Missouri's first two possessions and finished with just 97 yards. The issues might have encouraged coach Gary Pinkel to be more adventurous than normal. In the first half, Missouri ran a fake punt to defensive tackle Harold Brantley, his second fake punt conversion of the season.

Then, to start the second half, Missouri pulled off a pooch onside kick to perfection and later tried a fake field goal. However, the fake field goal didn't work and the fake punt and onside kick only led to a total of three points.

For Minnesota, the highlight was clearly TE Maxx Williams' hurdle over a Missouri defender for a 54-yard touchdown. The score gave the Gophers a 14-13 lead briefly in the third quarter before Missouri responded with a touchdown run by Mauk.

The Gophers finish the season at 8-5 while Missouri ends the season at 11-3. It's the second-straight 11-win season for the Tigers and the fourth in program history (three have come under Pinkel). Since joining the SEC in 2012, the Tigers are 27-12 overall and have won two-straight SEC East championships.

For more Minnesota news, visit GopherIllustrated.com.

For more Missouri news, visit PowerMizzou.com.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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