Missouri football hosted Auburn in a clash of the Tigers on their 113th Homecoming. Missouri overcame Auburn 21-17, and they did it shorthanded. 

Starting quarterback Brady Cook and running back Nate Noel both exited the game with injuries. Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz’s squad proved that even when the ingredients change, they can still find a way to serve up a victory with a 14-point comeback in the second half.

Missouri jumped on the scoreboard first, with freshman Blake Craig drilling a 51-yard field goal to give his team a three-point advantage.

Missouri’s offense stalled shortly after. They were unable to score any more points in the half as Craig missed two field goals. Cook left the game early after suffering a non-contact injury to the leg area. Backup Drew Pyne entered the game for the injured Cook but had issues in the passing game. Pyne completed less than 50% of his throws for just 78 yards.

With the offense struggling, the defense stepped up. Faurot Field erupted when defensive end Zion Young sacked Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne on Auburn’s first offensive play, leading to a three-and-out. 

Auburn’s second offensive drive resulted in a three-and-out as well, and Thorne completed just one pass in the entire first quarter. Missouri’s defense was effective in getting the ball back into the hands of their offense, as the home team carried the ball for 10:02 compared to Auburn’s 4:58.

“The defense just [kept] us in the game,” Drinkwitz said. “Hats off to Corey Batoon and that defensive side of football. They never flinched.”

Auburn cracked the scoreboard in the second quarter, with kicker Towns McGough hitting a  32-yarder to tie the game.

Looking to take the lead before halftime, Missouri strung together a drive into enemy territory. Tight end Jordon Harris made a 17-yard catch to put Missouri at Auburn’s 30-yard line. The drive ended two plays later when Pyne fumbled, allowing Auburn to take over.

The very next drive, Missouri’s “Death Row Defense” responded when Thorne fumbled the ball and Toriano Pride Jr. recovered, giving possession back to the home team.

The offensive struggles persisted when Missouri failed to capitalize on the turnover, missing a 55-yard field goal. The score remained 3-3 heading into the half.

Things started to go sideways for Missouri in the third quarter, with Auburn grabbing their first lead of the game. Thorne aired out a pass to receiver Cam Coleman for a 47-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 10-3 advantage.

Missouri’s situation went from bad to worse when receiver Luther Burden III dropped a punt, resulting in a second Auburn touchdown. This put Missouri down by two touchdowns.

Refusing to let the game get out of reach, Pyne led the team down the field to Auburn’s 21-yard line on the next drive. Craig redeemed himself by nailing a 38-yard field goal to cut Auburn’s lead to 11 points.

“We’re all proud of Drew,” Drinkwtiz said. “He came in a very difficult situation [and] played well enough to keep us in the game.”

Later in the third quarter, Jahkai Lang sacked Thorne, backing Auburn up 12 yards. This resulted in a third-and-goal from the Missouri 22-yard line, and ultimately forced Auburn to try a field goal. Auburn missed the 30-yard attempt, keeping Missouri within 11 points.

Faurot Field got loud when Cook re-entered the game after leaving with an injury on Missouri’s first drive. 

“I did not think I was going to come back to play the game,” Cook said. “Ultimately, I realized I had two and a half games left to play in Faurot, in front of that crowd and in front of Mizzou. And, you know, we were going to find a way. I knew we were down. I knew we needed to come back and find a way.”

Cook’s presence was felt when he completed a pass deep up the middle to Mookie Cooper, who took it 78 yards to the Auburn 2-yard line. On the very next play, Marcus Carroll pounded his way into the endzone. Cook rushed the ball himself on the 2-point attempt, succeeding in the try and cutting Missouri’s deficit to three.

All of the momentum was going Missouri’s way, and their defense came up with their fifth three-and-out to keep Auburn from adding to their lead.

Missouri regained possession of the ball with 4:26 left in the game. They made it to Auburn’s 41-yard line before being put in a fourth-and-5 situation. Where a field goal would tie it, Missouri elected to go for it on fourth down. The risk paid off when Cook completed a 16-yard pass to Burden for the first down. Running back Jamal Roberts scored his third touchdown of the season six plays later to put Missouri up 21-17 with less than a minute to go.

“I had confidence in my preparation all week,” Roberts said. “I just kept my patience and kept moving my feet.”

Missouri shut the following Auburn drive down, forcing a turnover on downs after four plays.

Despite lacking its starting quarterback for most of the game, Missouri found a recipe for success. Between the return of Cook, the game-winning drive that started on Missouri’s own 5-yard line and the securing of a bowl game, this Homecoming matchup is one many fans will remember.

“Those guys fight together,” Drinkwitz said. “[I] can’t think of a better way to win homecoming.”

Missouri will look to heal up before taking the field again at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The No. 15 Crimson Tide will be Missouri’s highest-ranked opponent of the season thus far.

Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com 

Copyedited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com   

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com