
Mizzou’s latest win over Arkansas proves their modus operandi this season is coming through late when it matters.
Little did we know at the time, but the 2024 Cotton Bowl would turn out to be a microcosm for the entire 2024 Missouri Football season.
That game was a slog. It was three quarters of discomfort followed by Brady Cook and his offense making just enough plays to come out on top. Sure Ohio State was weakened a bit by some injuries and opt outs on offense, but their defense was strong and they showed up, until the Tigers wore them down. The offense looked out of sorts, unable to make any plays or string any drives together while their defense held the line.
This season has felt like a slog. With expectations flying high, Mizzou had three easy wins and blew those teams out. They had two blowout losses in games that might have been a bit closer had they executed better early on. Then there were the five close games, and even the roadie against MSU required Mizzou to get some stops in the fourth quarter to shut down a moribund Mississippi State squad. But every one of those five games came down the plays in the final minutes of the game.
Against Boston College the Tigers needed two 3rd down conversions in the final two and a half minutes to win the game. Cook to Burden on 3rd & 7, plus a Cook run for 6 yards on 3rd and 2. They got both.
Against Vanderbilt Mizzou needed a Field goal make from Blake Craig in Overtime, and a field goal miss from Vandy to seal the win in overtime. They got both.
Against Auburn Mizzou needed a late 4th quarter touchdown drive, capped by a Marcus Carroll run and score, plus a defensive hold in the final 46 seconds to cap a comeback. They again got both.
Against Oklahoma the Tigers needed to recover from a tough scoop and score from the Oklahoma defense, down a touchdown with 2 minutes left. They needed two third down conversions to keep their drive alive, and got both. After scoring a touchdown to tie the game, they then got a Zion Young scoop and score to go ahead. Everything they needed to happen to win that game happened. They held Oklahoma out of the end zone after all of that.
Then against South Carolina it looked like it was all going to happen again. Mizzou got a late touchdown on a great throw from Cook to Burden, and a two point conversion to go up three. Only to finally have the second thing not go there way. The defense couldn’t provide the top and Carolina prevailed.
But again the 4th quarter magic came to the Tigers last night in the snow against Arkansas, a common theme being Faurot Field. Down a point in the 4th quarter, Missouri needed a 3rd and 9 and Cook found Luther Burden. That allowed them to convert the drive into a, maybe too quick (?), 30 yard scamper touchdown by Brady Cook. After converting the 2 point conversion the defense just needed to keep Arkansas out of the end zone to win.
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook (12) is carried off the field after the end of a game against Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at Faurot Field. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)
If your nerves are shot, it’s because Arkansas was able to convert two tough 4th down conversions. The last of which forced Missouri to make two plays on the ball in the end zone to preserve the win. But in the end, they did it. Safety Joseph Charleston, a senior transfer from Clemson, knocked a potential touchdown pass out of the hands of Isaiah Sategna then safety Sidney Williams, a senior transfer from Florida State knocked the ball down as time expired. Two seniors made the plays allowing the rest of their senior teammates were able to take their rock off the big Rock M and be carried off the field one last time.
Much like the end of the Cotton Bowl, Mizzou found a way to prevail. After trudging through adversity, some maybe more self inflicted than you might like.
The Tigers again needed a big second half after a stodgy first half. After scoring 10 points in three quarters, the Tigers pumped in 18 in the last one. Brady Cook completed just 10 passes all game long but three passes for 26 yards in the first half versus 7 for 142 in the second half. The team had 23 rushes for 81 yards in the first half and 24 rushes for 112 yards in the second. Sure the weather played something of a role, but I’m not sure the weather was better in the second half.
Maybe this requires some introspection on behalf of the coaching staff. I’m not sure what it says about them, to be honest. But it’s become modus operandi. On one end it makes for dramatic and interesting 4th quarters, on the other… why can’t you start out that way and make us all feel a bit better and less throw-uppy in the second half?
The regular season is over and Missouri is a 9-3 football team. A season which some would call a disappointment, but again I’ll just remind us all this is only the 9th time in school history the Tigers have won as many as 9 games. Winning is hard, and while these Tigers don’t make hard things look easy, they are good at doing the hard things.
Other SEC Scores:
- (3) Texas 17, (20) Texas A&M 7
- (8) Tennessee 36, Vanderbilt 23
- (15) South Carolina 17, (12) Clemson 14
- (13) Alabama 28, Auburn 14
- Louisville 41, Kentucky 14
- Florida 31, Florida State 11
- LSU 37, Oklahoma 17
Friday
- (7) Georgia 44, Georgia Tech 42
- (14) Ole Miss 26, Mississippi State 14
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