Tigers rally to dispatch Illini

ST. LOUIS -- After stumbling for a half, Missouri distanced itself from a distressing preseason.

Blaine Gabbert rallied the Tigers from a 10-point deficit with two touchdown passes and Carl Gettis made a leaping one-handed interception and downed a punt at the 1 in the fourth quarter of a 23-13 opening victory over Illinois on Saturday.

"We showed our guts," Gabbert said. "We came out in the second half and dominated."

Missouri won without Derrick Washington, the school's leading rusher the last two seasons, who was kicked off the team earlier in the week after being charged with sexual assault.

The school also had a handful of DUI arrests during the summer.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said those off-field topics were pushed to the background in the days leading up to kickoff.

"It doesn't matter," Pinkel said. "We had to focus on playing football."

T.J. Moe had 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, and the Tigers' defense shut out Illinois in the second half. Kenji Jackson also intercepted Nathan Scheelhaase in the fourth quarter to help seal it for Missouri, which finished the neutral-site Arch Rivalry series with six straight victories.

Missouri, 8-5 last year, has won 18 straight against nonconference opponents.