Tigers drop disappointing SEC opener to South Carolina
September 11, 2017 | Sports,
By Olivia Kloeckner
Mizzou hosted a largely anticipated first SEC night game since 2016. Last night, the Missouri Tigers (1-1) took on the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-0) at Faurot Field. Mizzou took an early lead against the Gamecocks. Tucker McCann put the Tigers on the board with a quick 43-yard field goal. The score was 3-0 in favor of Mizzou starting the second quarter. An early touchdown by Mizzou extended their lead to 10-0. However, a momentum change came following the 97-yard kickoff return by redshirt junior for South Carolina, Deebo Samuel making it 10-7. Back-to-back touchdowns for South Carolina gave them a 14-10 lead, a score that would hold going into halftime.
Scoring in the second half was left mainly in South Carolina’s hands. Many dropped balls by Mizzou receivers made scoring difficult, and the Gamecocks were able to capitalize. After a holding penalty to Mizzou’s Malik Young, South Carolina’s QB, Jake Bentley connected with Hayden Hurst for yet another touchdown. A lone field goal half way through the third quarter by McCann gave Mizzou their only points of the second half. Ending the third quarter with the score being 24-13 in favor of South Carolina, would be the last of Mizzou’s offensive action. Following an early fourth quarter touchdown by Hurst, making the score 31-13, the scoring was over.
With a final score of 31-13, the Tigers fall to a 1-1 record while the Gamecocks rise to a 2-0 record. Missouri head coach, Barry Odom, showed some frustration following the loss. “Well we didn’t win. We didn’t play well enough to win. Offense didn’t score enough, defense gave up too much,” he said. This seems to be a trend for Mizzou, but after a sudden release of defensive coordinator, DeMontie Cross, things may begin to look up for Mizzou on the defensive side of the ball.
Mizzou moves into the third week of the season, and prepare to take on the Purdue Boilermakers (1-1) Saturday, making it the third home game in a row.