The Missouri Tigers played yet another close game Saturday against the Vanderbilt Commodores. It was Mizzou’s third one-possession game in a row and its second loss on the season, which moved the Tigers to 6-2.
“They’re one-play games,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “We’re going to be disappointed in three or four plays that we had opportunities to win and we didn’t get it done.”
With the Tigers moving to 6-2, Mizzou’s postseason goals have likely been altered.
“We’re probably not playing for the conference championship now with two losses,” Drinkwitz said. “But we’re darn sure playing for the playoffs. And so, you know, it becomes a one-game season, week in, week out.”
Graduate center Connor Tollison reiterated the same message.
“10-2 record gets in the playoffs,” Tollison said. “It’s no easy task to win four games, but take it game by game, play by play, and see where we can go.”.
Senior quarterback Beau Pribula suffered an ankle injury on a fourth-and-goal rush attempt in the third quarter, sidelining him for the remainder of the game — and potentially the season.
“He was on the bottom of the pile, and somebody grabbed his leg and kind of fell on him,” Drinkwitz said. “Unfortunate, unfortunate injury right there. It’s an ankle dislocation. He didn’t break any bones. We think we’ll MRI tomorrow and see what what the results are.”
Tollison was asked what he said to Pribula following the injury.
“‘You don’t deserve this,’” Tollison said. “‘You shouldn’t be in this situation, but you are, and I know you’re gonna be fine.’”
First-year backup quarterback Matt Zollers came into the game following Pribula’s injury. Zollers played the remainder of the game — the most he had been asked to play all season.
Senior safety Daylan Carnell was asked about the emotions on the sideline following the injury and surrounding Zollers.
“We wanted to stay high — it gives Matt confidence,” Carnell said. “We didn’t want to be down on the sideline, and Matt feel like nobody had his back. So we tried to keep the energy high to rally behind Matt.”
Mizzou will have the next week off for a bye week, then the Tigers will host the currently undefeated and No. 3-ranked Texas A&M Aggies Saturday, Nov. 8.
