Missouri vs. Minnesota: Score and Twitter Reaction for 2015 Citrus Bowl

Missouri pulled away from Minnesota in the fourth quarter after a highly competitive game to score a 33-17 victory in the 2015 Citrus Bowl. It gained 337 yards on the ground to spark the bowl triumph.     

The Tigers came into the game carrying the flag of the SEC. The conference, which was considered the clear best during most of the regular season, has taken a hit with some losses during the bowl season. The Golden Gophers hoped to continue that trend.

They weren't able to pull it off, though, as Missouri overcame a slow start to get the win. Here's how the marquee matchup played out from Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando:

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Tigers	0	10	9	14	33
Golden Gophers	7	0	10	0	17

One of the difficult aspects of playing a bowl game in the tourist haven of Orlando is striking the right balance between work and play. 

Tom Loeffler of KRCG passed along comments from Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk, who said that's something the team tried to handle as best it could.

"We understand that we came down here to have fun," Mauk said. "We had fun and that stuff is over with. It's the lock-down period and we have to make sure we come out and play our best football. That's the reason we came down here, to win a football game."

A sloppy start by both teams suggested they were still completing the transition back into game mode.

There were three turnovers, two Mauk interceptions by the Tigers and a Mitch Leidner fumble by the Gophers, within the first five minutes of the game. There was a complete absence of rhythm at the outset on both sides.

Minnesota was finally able to settle things down with a long drive. A well-called combination of runs and passes allowed it to cover 80 yards in 11 plays while eating up nearly six minutes of clock. Most importantly, it got the underdogs on the scoreboard first.

Rodrick Williams Jr. burst through the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run. Brice Marich of Gopher Digest applauded the play-calling on the drive:

After sleepwalking through the first quarter, Missouri finally came alive in the second.

A perfect punt by Christian Brinser flipped the field position, and a quick defensive stop gave the Tigers the ball in opponent territory. They capitalized, driving inside the Gophers' 5-yard line before being forced to settle for a field goal.

David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune noted Missouri did all its damage via the rushing attack on its first scoring drive:

After another stop, the Tigers found the groove that was previously missing on offense as they went 67 yards in less than two minutes to grab the lead. Mauk found Bud Sasser from 25 yards out to make it 10-7.

Minnesota opted against trying to push the ball downfield at the end of the first half. Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch pointed out the teams went into the locker room deadlocked in total yards:

Part of the Gophers' decision to play it safe was the fact they were set to receive the ball to start the third quarter. Or so they thought. Gary Pinkel decided to go for the surprise onside kick, and it worked to perfection as Ian Simon scooped up the loose ball.

Chip Scoggins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted the successful play brought the conservative play calls at the end of the first half into question:

The Minnesota defense was caught off guard by the quick return to the field as Marcus Murphy gashed it for 25 yards on the first play. The unit toughened up from there, however, holding Missouri to a field goal. It was a success with all things considered.

Then the Gophers were able to provide an immediate response. Following a 20-yard connection between Leidner and KJ Maye, the quarterback found Maxx Williams on a quick out route, and the tight end did the rest as he made a highlight-reel run down the sidelines for a 54-yard touchdown.

ESPN College Football provided video of the score:

Just when it looked like things might be turning in the Gophers' favor after a three-and-out by the Tigers, a special teams error flipped the script again. Marcus Jones fumbled as he tried to wrangle in the punt, and Missouri recovered it.

Three plays later, Mauk ran it in from 18 yards out. Pinkel decided to go for two to make it a seven-point game. It didn't work, as Dr. Saturday explained:

Minnesota cut the lead to two a few minutes later with a Ryan Santoso field goal. A stretch of stops by both defenses followed until Missouri created some breathing room early in the fourth quarter.

It actually looked like the Gophers could breathe a sigh of relief after Murphy had returned a punt all the way to the end zone before it was called back due to a penalty. The Tigers scored quickly anyway, however, as Russell Hansbrough ripped off a 78-yard run to make it 26-17.

Mihir Bhagat of KOMU expects an even bigger role for Hansbrough next season:

Missouri added to the lead a couple minutes later as Mauk and Sasser hooked up for the second time. This one came from seven yards out to stretch the lead to 16.

There was no late rally in the cards for the Gophers. Mizzou Football highlighted the result:

In the end, Minnesota had an opportunity to take control of the game early but failed to fully capitalize on the Missouri mistakes. The Golden Gophers are still trending in the right direction after an 8-5 campaign, but it ends on a frustrating note.

Missouri gets the victory to finish 11-3 and provide a bright light for the SEC after a stretch of lackluster results. It will have to replace a few key players, notably Murphy and Sasser, but the foundation is still strong as the Tigers begin looking toward 2015.