COLUMBIA, Mo. – Rockfight. A battle where each side throws the hard object trying to overpower the other until one drops. The metaphor applies to Mizzou’s 33-31 victory in Columbia this Saturday. A matchup that started rather quietly offensively in the first quarter, turned into a back and forth battle with a total of five lead changes during the second half.
Missouri tight end Ryan Hoerstkamp encourages crowds to get loud in the fourth quarter on Saturday Nov. 18th, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. Photo and caption: Lily Kleinhenz/ The Maneater
The final knockout blow in the back and forth affair came in the fourth quarter on the offensive side of the ball for the Tigers. Mizzou, down by just one point at their own 33-yard line had only one down remaining on their quota and 17 yards to gain. Brady Cook dropped back to pass with 38 seconds remaining.
The sellout Faurot Field crowd erupted in cheers as Cook showcased his fourth quarter game management skills, hitting now 1,000 yard receiver Luther Burden for a 27-yard gain and the extension of the contest.
Four plays later, Mizzou ended up on the Gators’ 13-yard line, after a final 13-yard pass from Cook to Cooper put another game in the hands of Mizzou’s highest point scorer, Harrison Mevis.
“That’s what I was brought up here to do, make those kicks for the team and help us win,” Mevis said. “It’s a testament to the offense for putting me in position to go do that.”
Mevis didn’t disappoint with the ball in his court, splitting the uprights from 22 yards out, and giving Mizzou (9-2) complete control of second place in the SEC east.
“[The win] means everything,” Mevis said. “We’ve been through a lot as a team and I’m just blessed to have been a big part of this win tonight.”
Big plays were a theme throughout the night for Mizzou. Less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, Cook handed the ball off to his running back Cody Schrader, who created another highlight moment.
After finding an open hole on the left side of the line, Schrader took off on a run that could only be described as a “mama there goes that man” moment, running 42 yards to the house and etching yet another memory in the hearts of Mizzou fans at the sold out Faurot Field.
“As I came across that inside zone I pressed it,” Schrader said. “I saw the front side gap open up and just burst straight through it and then it was just up to me to win the race.”
The 42-yard run by Schrader was the commencement of a successful night on the ground for the Mizzou offense in half one. The Tigers earned 148 of its 204 total offensive yards in the first half from the rushing game.
“The first half rushing wise didn’t match up with the second half,” Schrader said. “So I definitely gotta get that corrected and get better individually.”
Florida’s offensive trio of quarterback Graham Mertz, running back Trevor Etienne and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall played a big part in the Florida offense during the second half that had five total lead changes. Mertz left the game in the third quarter with a fractured collarbone.
Florida starting quarterback Graham Mertz walks off Faurot Field on Saturday Nov. 18th, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. It is believed Mertz has suffered from a non-displaced fracture in his collarbone. Photo and caption: Lily Kleinhenz/ The Maneater
The only score from the trio in half number one came on a 61 yard bomb from Mertz to Pearsall, but the second half saw the three combine for three touchdowns in the second half.
However the biggest and possibly most costly play of the game for the Gators came from Etienne in crunch time. A run for two yards saw him go out of bounds, letting Mizzou preserve their one timeout for their final drive with 1:47 left on the clock before the Gators took the three points.
An offensive high was accompanied by a defensive challenge tonight, giving up 500 yards total to the Gators, the second most they’ve given up in SEC play this year.
“Defensively we have a lot of things we’re gonna have to work on,” Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “Hats off to Florida, coach Napier did a great job offensively and keeping us off balance.”
The lasting impact of this game was the senior night feel. Players like Darius Robinson didn’t just want to win this game for the in-season impact, but to show the players who will be here after them the mentality to have moving forward.
“As long as my teammates understand that we were leaders and wanted the best for them at all times and just set the standard for them going forward,” Robinson said. “That’s how I know my legacy will be submitted.”
Mizzou (9-2) will travel to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas (4-7) in the battle line rivalry game and cement its place in a New Year’s six bowl game.