The Missouri Tigers defeated No. 24 Boston College in a 27-21 showdown. 

With the win, Missouri improves to 3-0 for only the second time since 2018.

The Tigers got off to a slow start, finding themselves in an early 14-3 hole.

The story of Missouri’s stellar season has been their “Death Row” defense. The Tigers shut out the opposing offenses in their first two games, which has not happened since 1935. But game three was a different story, with Boston College scoring the first points on Missouri this year.

The Tigers’ defense struggled to stop the Eagles’ run game and picked up their first flag of the season in the first quarter. The Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos threw a 12-yard touchdown to receiver Jerand Bradley to give Boston College an early 7-0 lead.

“[This] was the first time that we had to face some adversity, and I think everybody kind of had to settle into what that fist fight was going to be,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said after the game.

Penalties continued to be an issue for Missouri. For the second consecutive drive, there was a defensive flag that extended the Eagles drive. 

Boston College took advantage of Missouri’s mistakes and stretched their lead in the second quarter. The Tigers trailed 14-3 after Castellanos launched a 67-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Reed Harris. 

Despite giving up a score, the defense came up with plays when it mattered. Trailing by eight, safety Tre’Vez Johnson intercepted Castellanos in the second quarter. 

“We knew it was going to be a fight, we knew what kind of game it was going to be. It was kind of a ‘don’t flinch mindset,’” Johnson said. 

The Tigers also got out to a slow start offensively. Multiple drives showed promise for Missouri, but the Tigers had to settle for two field goals. Freshman kicker Blake Craig added another late in the second quarter, going three-for-three in the half.

Missouri found their rhythm in the second quarter, scoring 14 points. Johnson’s interception set up a 19-yard touchdown reception from Luther Burden III. The subsequent two-point conversion attempt was successful, with running back Nate Noel taking the direct snap and tying the game at 14.

Tiger fans were fired up after a career long 56-yard field goal by Craig gave the Tigers their first lead of the game. Missouri entered halftime up 17-14.

“We were just encouraging each other on offense and defense,” Noel said. “I feel like it really uplifted the spirit, and we were able to get the job done.”

The momentum from the high spirits carried over into the second half when quarterback Brady Cook scored a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers ahead 24-14.

The defense also improved, shutting the Eagles out in the third quarter. The Tigers also came up with their second takeaway of the game when cornerback Dreyden Norwood intercepted the Eagles pass attempt.

Penalties persisted in the third quarter, causing problems for the Tigers’ offense. Flags were thrown on three straight plays to put Missouri in a second-and-58 situation, ending their drive. Missouri was able to win the game, but self-inflicted errors made it difficult.

“The penalties, those are on me,” Drinkwitz said. “I’ve never seen that many flags on a single offense in my time. So I got to go back and watch that and go from there.”

Up by ten, the Tigers elected to go for it on fourth-and-two, converting off a pass to receiver Theo Wease Jr. This drive led to another Missouri score, with Craig drilling a 31-yarder.

With 3:45 remaining in the game, the Eagles responded by scoring their first points since 9:44 was left in the second quarter. Castellanos connected with tight end Kamari Morales on a 38-yard touchdown to cut the Tigers lead to six.

Unfazed, the Tiger offense took the field and ran the clock down, beating Boston College in their most thrilling game of the season.

Cook went 21-for-30 on passes, throwing for 264 yards on the day and a touchdown. His passing yardage surpassed what he threw for in the first two games and he had no turnovers.

Craig was also a star of the game, making all four of his field goal attempts and nailing a career long kick. 

“I know he’s got the leg for him to hit that 57 yarder at the end of half. I think it gave our team a lot of confidence going into the half, and he had an excellent game today,” Drinkwitz said.

The Tigers see the field again next Saturday at 3:15 p.m. in another sold out home game. Missouri will look to stay undefeated against their first SEC opponent, the Vanderbilt Commodores.

“It’s great to be 3-0, but there’s got to be a lot of improvement in order for us to take on the SEC, which is what next week is,” Drinkwitz said.

Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com