After a fast start, Missouri soccer fails to make any noise with a disappointing finish
No. 12 Missouri falls short of the upset in Athens, as No. 2 Georgia wins 30-21 after a strong second half for the Bulldogs.
“We came here to win, not keep it close,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said.
The Tigers led 13-10 early in the second half, with their only touchdown coming off a 39-yard touchdown toss from Brady Cook to Luther Burden III. The duo has now combined for five touchdowns on the year. Harrison Mevis made a pair of field goals, becoming Missouri’s all-time leader in points with 364 at the end of the game.
Georgia began to widen the gap, scoring a pair of touchdowns before the end of the third quarter to retake the lead 24-13. Quarterback Carson Beck led the way in the passing game, with 254 yards and two touchdowns.
But Missouri refused to go away, pulling together a touchdown drive early in the fourth to cut the Georgia lead to three. Cody Schrader punches it in from 12 yards out, before Cook finds Burden on the two-point conversion. Schrader racked up his fifth game of 100-plus rushing yards on the year, and his 10th rushing touchdown.
“The guy is a heck of a player,” Drinkwitz said.
On their first drive of the fourth quarter, Georgia was forced to settle for a field goal and keep it a one-possession game. The Tigers stopped the Bulldogs in the red zone, forcing two incompletions and then a short pass on 3rd down, as they trailed 27-21 with 8:59 left in the game.
Cook couldn’t brew up any late magic, throwing a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter. Georgia methodically finished the game, including another field goal to stretch their lead to nine points.
“Ultimately the two turnovers at the end were the difference,”Drinkwitz said.
The Bulldogs controlled the time of possession all game, with 34:18 compared to only 25:42 for Missouri. The Tigers defense faltered in the second half, allowing points on four opportunities on the field.
Missouri made several mistakes on its own, including an errant kick return attempt from freshman Marquis Johnson that pinned the Tigers at their own three-yard line. In addition, Missouri committed eight penalties compared to just five for Georgia.
The Tigers now fall to 7-2, 3-2 in SEC play. Georgia improves to 9-0 and 6-0 in conference play, winning its 26th consecutive matchup. Missouri will be back home against No. 17 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2) on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com