This was the first time that either team appeared in the Texas Bowl. It was the seventh year in a row that Navy appeared in a bowl game, and a team record fifth year in a row that Missouri made a post-season appearance. Missouri came off two straight bowl wins while Navy had lost three bowl games in a row. The game marked the third time that the two teams had played each other and the second time they had met in a bowl game. Prior to the 2009 Texas Bowl, Missouri held a 2–0 advantage with a 35–14 victory in 1948 and a 21–14 win in 1961 in the Orange Bowl.[6]
Game summary
Navy wore their navy blue home jerseys with white and red trimmed shoulders, Missouri wore their white away jerseys. Missouri struck first with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Danario Alexander, but that would be the best part of the day for Missouri. Despite a fumble by Navy, the Midshipmen defense shut Missouri down, and gave the ball back to Navy QB Ricky Dobbs, who atoned for his fumble on the previous drive with a one-yard TD rush, his 25th of the season. Dobbs would fumble again in the endzone, resulting in Missouri having a chance to take the lead before halftime, but Missouri fumbled on the next play, and Dobbs atoned for his fumble once more with a touchdown. Missouri cut it to 14–10 for halftime, but they would not draw any closer. Navy dominated the rest of the game.[citation needed] After halftime, Navy took a 21–10 lead on a Dobbs pass to Bobby Doyle. Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert then threw an interception, and Navy didn't look back. Navy ate up most of the 3rd quarter before a 4th down stop. However, Missouri could only amass a field goal out of a 95-yard drive. Navy won by a final count of 35–13. Ricky Dobbs took Texas BowlMVP honors.
Scoring
Scoring play
Score
1st Quarter
MIZZ – Blaine Gabbert 58-yard pass to Danario Alexander (Grant Ressel kick), 14:36
MIZZ 7–0
NAVY – Ricky Dobbs 1-yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 2:58
TIE 7–7
2nd Quarter
NAVY – Ricky Dobbs 13-yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 0:45
NAVY 14–7
MIZZ – Grant Ressel 31-yard field goal, 0:00
NAVY 14–10
3rd Quarter
NAVY – Ricky Dobbs 3-yard pass to Bobby Doyle (Joe Buckley kick), 10:04
NAVY 21–10
4th Quarter
MIZZ – Grant Ressel 31-yard field goal, 14:58
NAVY 21–13
NAVY – Marcus Curry 11-yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 14:23
NAVY 28–13
NAVY – Ricky Dobbs 1-yard rush (Joe Buckley kick), 4:56