
The offense ran the ball 53 times for 207 yards and three scores in an emphatic performance to close their final road trip of the season.
The No. 23 Missouri Tigers (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern) had a chance to avoid going winless in the road in conference play for the first time since 2016 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6 Southeastern). Missouri would utilize their first offensively potent first half in a while to power them to a commanding 39-20 victory.
Heading into this tilt, all eyes were on the Missouri offense and whether they were going to be able to get off to a fast start. After all, they had only scored six points in the first half of their previous three SEC road games. Mississippi State’s defense was ranked 127th in EPA allowed per play coming into this game marking a huge opportunity for the Mizzou offense to be efficient.
The Bulldogs got off on the right foot with an opening drive field goal, powered by Davon Booth’s 33-yard run. Missouri’s offensive response was lackluster, as two straight three-and-out drives made it seem as if the usual ineptitude in the first half was due.
However, a spark came in the form of Daylan Carnell as Kristian Williams forced the ball out of Michael Van Buren’s hands and Carnell picked it up for a 70-yard scoop-and-score. The play gave the Tigers defense the advantage over the offense in SEC road first half points, 7-6 at the time.
That stat was immediately annulled by a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was put together thanks to a 43-yard bomb to Marquis Johnson and was helped by Marcus Carroll and Jamal Roberts’ strategic running. Carroll punched in the score on that drive to give Missouri an early 14-3 lead.
While the defense had been playing well, bad discipline will stifle even the best teams in the country if untimely. Untimely it was, as a late hit after the whistle blew from Corey Flagg was made even worse by a punch thrown from veteran Chuck Hicks. The two dead-ball fouls gave the Bulldogs 30-yards for free, and led to a touchdown response to keep the game within reach for the home team.
Another big play came in the form of a highlight reel catch from Luther Burden, who adjusted to Brady Cook’s throw in the back of the end-zone for a 28-yard score. Cook’s play on the 79-yard drive was remarkable as he was four-of-four for 55 yards and the aforementioned score in it.
Another touchdown drive followed for the Tigers as a 38-yard pitch and catch to Theo Wease Jr. was aided by a 19-yard score from Carroll to extend the lead to 28-10. The drive put the Tigers to 244 yards in the first half, which was mostly due to Cook averaging 14.1 yards per pass on just 10 throws. Carroll finished the game with 61 yards rushing and three scores.
Although the Tigers were finally putting together a complete offensive performance, the defense still had its issues particularly in coverage. Mississippi State’s run-pass-option offense relies on getting inside leverage on quick routes, and Missouri repeatedly gave that leverage to them throughout the first half. The Bulldogs’ inability to be clean in their operation helped the Tigers.
One aspect that Missouri struggled in last week against South Carolina was third-down conversions and that trend was dashed against the Bulldogs. Mizzou completed seven of their first 12 third downs which helped them rifle of four consecutive scoring drives. The streak was ended by Blake Craig’s missed 44-yard field goal in the middle of the third quarter.
While Missouri’s two drives in the third quarter yielded back just three points they still took off 12:57 from the clock which is absolutely crucial in a two-score game. However the ability to take the time off the clock is neutralized if the opposition can pick up explosive plays, and the Bulldogs did exactly that.
Booth had a 22-yard run followed by a 43-yard run for a touchdown in a drive that took less than 45 seconds to put up seven for the home team, and then after the Craig missed kick they began their next drive with a 49-yard bomb on the first play. With that, a game that most people would have pegged as out of reach for head coach Jeff Lebby’s crew was far from over.
The drive that started with the explosive pass play fizzled out with a fourth down incompletion from Van Buren, and the Tigers responded with yet another long drive. This one lasting 8:43 and ending with Carroll’s third score of the game with Carroll running in a two-point conversion for good measure to put the game well out of reach.
The win marks Missouri’s eighth win of the season and keeps their hopes of a second-consecutive double-digit win season alive. They will host rivals Arkansas next Saturday to close out the regular season.
Brady Cook finished the game throwing 15-of-20 for 268 yards and a touchdown. 268 is his most passing yards in a game this season, just four above his 264 picked up against Boston College earlier in the year.
Statistically, Missouri picked up 475 total yards of offense with 268 through the air and 207 on the ground. Mississippi State picked up 338 total yards themselves with Van Buren throwing for 191 and Booth powering the rush attack to 147 yards. Missouri was also at least in the 70th percentile in every offensive category with six of them above the 88th percentile.
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