Powell’s start

Taylor Powell, Missouri’s redshirt sophomore quarterback from Fayetteville, drew a tough assignment for his first start.

Powell started in place of injured senior Kelly Bryant against No. 4 Georgia between the hedges at Sanford Stadium on Saturday night and struggled as the Bulldogs won 27-0.

“Just seemed like every time we were getting a drive going, something would happen,” Powell told reporters after the game. “I put a lot of that on me. I’ve got to be a lot better.”

Powell completed 10 of 22 passes for 84 yards with 1 interception, but he also wasn’t helped by his receivers at times, according to Missouri Coach Barry Odom.

“I thought Taylor did some things to try to manage the game and the short passing areas that gave us a chance,” Odom said. “We didn’t win many oneon-one matchups there. We had an opportunity to make catches on the ball. We didn’t make many.”

Missouri receiver Barrett Banister, who also was Powell’s teammate at Fayetteville, said the Tigers have to do a better job of making contested catches.

“There were a couple times on third down Taylor put the ball up, and we’ve got to make those plays,” Banister told reporters.

Odom said Bryant, who sat out because of a hamstring injury, will be well enough to start against Florida on Saturday, but that he remains confident in Powell’s ability to play well if needed.

“Taylor understands the importance of preparing the way he needs to, because he’s done that all year,” Odom said. “He’ll go in and play better with the next opportunity that he gets.

“I’m proud of the way he competed and battled and prepared. He did everything he could to try to give ourselves a chance to win.”