Missouri traveled to Florida last weekend, in a game between two Southeastern Conference teams who had yet to win a game in the conference, knowing one would leave with its first SEC victory, and the other with a record worse than before. After nearly winning both of its games in the last two weeks, Missouri hoped to close out this game and come home with a victory. However, even in a game that was winnable for the Tigers, they still fell short in their third consecutive loss of fewer than 10 points.
The Tigers’ offense started slow, but the defense came in hot. After Missouri finished its first possession with no points, the defense stopped the Gator offense, forcing them to an early fourth down. Missouri sophomore quarterback Brady Cook came back on the field and threw a 23-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Mookie Cooper for a first down. However, after committing a holding penalty that pushed the offense back further, the Tigers could not gain their momentum back.
After Missouri kicked the punt return, Florida sophomore wide receiver Xzavier Henderson returned it 48 yards, starting the Gators at the 24-yard line. This brought Florida into field goal range, and redshirt freshman kicker Adam Mihalek made a 37-yard field goal, advancing the score to 3-0.
On the ensuing possession, Cook threw an interception to redshirt sophomore cornerback Jaydon Hill, who ran it into the end zone for a 49-yard Gator touchdown, making the score 10-0 at the end of the quarter.
Florida started the second quarter hot on offense but cooled off quickly. About three minutes into the quarter, Florida sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson threw what would have been a touchdown, but sophomore wide receiver Ja’Quavion Fraziars dropped the ball in the end zone. Shortly after, Mihalek attempted another field goal from 50 yards and missed. Cook and the Missouri offense took over from there.
As Missouri inched closer and closer to the end zone, it was senior running back Cody Schrader who eventually scored on a five-yard rush to put Missouri on the board, 10-7. After that, the Tigers’ defense took off, as sophomore defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. broke up a pass. Richardson fumbled the ball later in the drive, and redshirt freshman linebacker Dameon Wilson recovered it to give Missouri possession for nearly the rest of the half. With 20 seconds left, Mevis kicked a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10.
Florida’s offense started the second half with momentum, as sophomore running back Montrell Johnson Jr. ran the ball 41 yards on the second offensive play. Florida freshman running back Trevor Etienne added a 39-yard run on the following Florida drive, and Richardson ran another 32 yards to bring the Gators within three yards of the end zone. On the next play, Johnson completed the drive with a three-yard rush to bring the Gators up 17-10.
As Missouri crept toward the end zone at the end of the quarter, Cook threw his second interception of the game to Hill, evaporating the Tigers’ chance of scoring during the quarter.
Missouri needed to enter the fourth quarter ready to finish the game to claim its victory — something it has struggled with its prior two games. However, the Tigers could not come together to accomplish this.
Early in the quarter, Johnson ran the ball 36 yards for a Florida first down, and junior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall caught a touchdown pass shortly after, extending the lead to 24-10. After that, Cook made some successful long passes to eventually push Missouri into its end zone. Tigers senior running back Nathaniel Peat ran the ball 18 yards for a Missouri touchdown to bring the score to 24-17.
After that, the Missouri defense successfully kept Florida out of the end zone, as Missouri redshirt freshman defensive back Daylan Carnell caught an interception thrown by Richardson with 2:57 left in the game. The offense had enough time to score another touchdown and tie up the game, but Cook could not deliver, as he was sacked and threw two incomplete passes. The game ended in a 24-17 Missouri loss, dropping the Tigers to 2-4 (0-3 SEC) on the season.
The Tigers will play again on Saturday, Oct. 22 at home against Vanderbilt for their homecoming game, as they continue to seek their first SEC win.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Jacob Richey | jrichey@themaneater.com