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Quarterback Beau Pribula dazzled with both his arms and legs. Running back Ahmad Hardy showed why expectations are so high.

Several receivers illustrated they are ready for prime time.

Here's a look at five key plays from Thursday's game:

Beau can throw

Time: 11:06, first quarter

Play: 49-yard touchdown from Pribula to Marquis Johnson

On his first pass attempt in a Mizzou uniform, quarterback Pribula found wide receiver Marquis Johnson open in stride at the 8-yard line. Johnson ran it the rest of the way to complete a 49-yard touchdown, opening the scoring quickly on Mizzou’s fourth play from scrimmage.

The pass quickly quieted question marks about Pribula’s downfield passing ability. As Mizzou beat writer Eli Hoff noted, Pribula attempted just 56 passes at Penn State, only 18 of which went to targets 10 or more yards downfield.

Pribula rushed for 7 yards on the play before that long pass.

Coleman shows punt-return prowess

Time: 7:41, second quarter

Play: Kevin Coleman Jr. returns a punt 44 yards

One of the better punt returners in the Southeastern Conference last year at Mississippi State, Kevin Coleman Jr. quickly showed fans in his home state why.

Coleman, a St. Louis native who attended St. Mary’s, ran one back a career-best 44 yards to the Central Arkansas 33-yard line, setting up the next key play.

Coleman’s arrival is key given Mizzou's punt return woes. He racked up more punt return yards (50) Thursday than Mizzou did all of last season (27).

Pribula dekes, dazzles on 31-yard score

Time: 6:48, second quarter

Play: Pribula runs for a 31-yard touchdown

On the second play after Coleman’s big return, Pribula demonstrated the rushing ability for which he's known best. His 31-yard rush score was far more impressive — and far longer — than the box score may have indicated.

Pribula dropped back to pass, swerved around a Central Arkansas defensive lineman 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage and rushed forward, avoiding several more Bears defenders before tumbling into the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

Norfleet’s catch caps 99-yard drive before half

Time: 0:08, second quarter

Play: Pribula 1-yard touchdown pass to Brett Norfleet

Mizzou avoided what would've been a minor letdown when Pribula found tight end Norfleet at the back of the end zone to complete a 99-yard touchdown drive just before halftime and send the Tigers into the locker room up 26-0.

Mizzou wants to involve its tight ends more, as the Post-Dispatch's Hoff wrote, and it did so Thursday.

The drive as a whole was a team effort. Jamal Roberts started it with a 31-yard run. Joshua Manning caught three straight passes for a total of 42 yards and, thanks to his efforts, Pribula finished the half with career highs in completions (19), attempts (23) and passing touchdowns (two).

It was Mizzou’s first 99-yard touchdown drive since 2021 — and that was just the Tigers' first 99-yard TD drive of the night.

Hardy gallops to first touchdown

Time: 11:23, third quarter

Play: Ahmad Hardy 4-yard touchdown run

The Tigers expect a lot from Louisiana-Monroe transfer Ahmad Hardy, and he showed a lot on the first drive of the second half.

Hardy rushed for 59 yards on the half's opening drive, including a 44-yard dash on a pitch from Pribula. Hardy capped it with a 4-yard score, then the equestrian celebrated with teammates with a giddy-up dance in a nod to his horses.

Honorable mention

Blake Craig's long field goals

Sophomore kicker Blake Craig continues to make long field goals. His two attempts came from 49 and 55 yards. He hit both.

Craig later left the game with an injury suffered on a kickoff.

Dante McClellan's 83-yard interception return TD

If you tuned out early, you missed freshman linebacker Dante McClellan's 83-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:48 to play.