Missouri’s second game of the season see’s the Tigers improve to 2-0 after clash with Blue Raiders

The Missouri Tigers would come out of a contest with the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders victorious. The Tigers record will move to 2-0 after a 23-19 win in their second contest this season. 

Through the first half of this game both offenses came out sluggish on early drives. Both teams would lack anything resembling rhythm through the first half of play, combining for just 17 total points. This would lead to both teams punting three times each in just nine total drives between both teams. 

Brady Cook came into this one fresh off being named the starter for the Tigers, this would be the first full game played for Cook this season. He was efficient in the first half but produced nothing of true value until the last drive of the hal when he added a touchdown to the scoreboard with a quarterback sneak from the one yard line Middle Tennessee’ss offense would remain dormant throughout the half mustering up nothing but a field goal.  

The Blue Raiders would come alive to start the second half, using their opening drive to march down the field against a normally sound Tigers defense before settling for a field goal. After the Blue Raiders tied the game with the field goal, the Tigers would have the best offensive drive of the night. Cook would march the Tigers downfield on a drive that included a 44 yard bomb to Luther Burden behind the Blue Raiders defense. A five yard touchdown pass to Theo Wease would put the Tigers up six points, concluding the drive. 

Middle Tennessee would look for a response with an offense that all night highlighted spectacular grabs like the one from Justin Olson in the third quarter. Regardless of spectacular individual play from the Blue Raiders, the Tigers defense would capitalize on new found momentum and force a punt after a single first down. 

Something awoke in the locker room for Brady Cook and the Tigers offense, as they scored touchdowns on both of their drives in the third quarter. Cook would find a wide open Nathaniel Peat connecting for a 49 yard wheel route and  touchdown to extend the Tigers lead in the third quarter. The Tigers defense was finally able to match momentum with the offense forcing back to back punts from the Blue Raiders. 

The Blue Raiders defense wasn’t ready to let this one slip away though, as they forced a Tigers punt. Middle Tennessee would put all they had into the next drive including a halfback pass and 37 yard pass from Blue Raiders quarterback Nicholas Vattiato to put the Blue Raiders into the red-zone. Vattiato capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to Justin Olson, chipping away at the Tigers lead and making the score 23-17 for Missouri.

Brady Cook would set out to extend the Tigers lead and put the Blue Raiders away, but the Middle Tennessee defense was  tough on the Tigers all night and needed a stop. They found more than a stop as Cook would get hit while rolling to pass and fumbled the ball backwards into the end zone. The Blue Raiders would add two points as the Cook fumble would roll out of the end zone resulting in a safety. 

The Blue Raiders offense would get a chance to take the lead late in the game, after being only down four points due to the Tiger’s miscues and multiple holds on defense. The Blue Raiders would give the Tigers a fight as they drove down the field. Middle Tennessee’s comeback attempt would see the beginning of the end after failing to convert on fourth down. The Blue Raiders would force the Tigers into a third down before committing a pass interference penalty, allowing the Tigers to run out the clock en route to a 23-19 victory. This game makes the Tigers 2-0 after their first two contests. 

Missouri will play No.15 Kansas State next Saturday at 11 a.m., back at Faurot Field. 

Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com

Copy Edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com