COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri kept the Mayor’s Cup in Columbia, Missouri for the fifth straight year, in its 34-12 victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks Saturday at Faurot Field.
A first half explosion of offense propelled the Tigers, who outscored the Gamecocks 24-3 in the first half. The Tigers’ offense moved quickly and effectively in the first and second quarters, with all of their scoring drives going just above or less than four minutes a piece. Running back Cody Schrader took advantage of his touches, putting up 102 rushing yards in the first half on 13 carries and finishing the game with a Missouri career high 159 rushing yards.
“I’m proving to myself that I do belong in the SEC,” Schrader said. “Coming from Division two, it took me a while to adjust to the game speed, but as I’ve kept going, it’s kept getting slower.”
Despite the first half performance, another takeaway from the game is the lack of playing a complete performance for all four quarters. With fifteen yards rushing, 30 yards passing and no points in the third quarter, Missouri’s defense kept the game out of the Gamecocks’ reach of the Gamecocks by holding South Carolina to three field goals in the second half.
“[South Carolina] was playing hard. They didn’t lay down and we just lacked some execution stuff,” Missouri quarterback Brady Cook said. “We just need to put the game away.”
Drinkwitz was happy that the Mayor Cup was returning to the “real Columbia,” but also pointed out the team’s mentality must improve even in victory, in every quarter of the game.
“We’ve seen flashes, but we haven’t put it together for four quarters,” Drinkwitz said. “I think that’s why this team is so hungry and coachable, because they’re wanting to prove it to each other.”
Blake Baker’s defense challenged Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler for four full quarters. The Tigers limited Rattler to -27 yards rushing and less than 100 yards passing. Missouri also sacked Rattler 6 times in the contest. Rattler’s 210 passing yards and -15 total rushing yards mark a season low.
“It’s about getting home,” Missouri linebacker Chuck Hicks said. “Creating sacks and putting pressure on any quarterback, they’re gonna struggle.”
An overall performance by Blake Baker’s unit is an encouraging sign, and a bounce back after giving up over 100 yards in the first quarter at Kentucky last week.
“[The defense] keeps getting better every week, I don’t think there’s that pressure,” Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “We are just embracing who we are and trying to get better.”
An overall performance by Blake Baker’s unit is an encouraging sign, and a bounce back after giving up over 100 yards in the first quarter at Kentucky last week.
The Tigers (7-1) have a bye week before they travel to Athens to take on No.1 ranked, and former national champions Georgia. The Tigers will attempt to avenge the 26-22 suffered against the Bulldogs at Faurot last season.