Missed opportunities in the first half and missed tackles in the second half combined to deliver a gut-punch to Mizzou’s slim playoff aspirations, as the Tigers fell to South Carolina 34-30 on Saturday, Nov. 16, in the process losing the Mayor’s Cup for the first time in six years.
Mizzou again had a slow start on offense, even with Brady Cook back from injury, as the Tigers were limited to two Blake Craig field goals in the first half. The Tigers scored on their first possession, but South Carolina took the lead on their first drive with the first of five touchdown passes from LaNorris Sellers. Effective clock management by South Carolina allowed the Gamecocks to add two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the half, making the halftime score 21-6.
South Carolina turned the ball over on downs to start the second half, leading to Mizzou’s first touchdown of the day, a two-yard run by Marcus Carroll. The two-point conversion failed, but Mizzou did make it a one-possession game on the next drive with Craig’s third field goal of the day, from 25 yards. Mizzou then tied the game with 9:12 remaining, with a one-yard run by Nate Noel; the extra point gave Mizzou a 22-21 lead. South Carolina retook the lead with just over five minutes remaining, but a penalty wiped out their successful two-point attempt.
Mizzou retook the lead with 70 seconds remaining on a fourth-down pass from Cook to Luther Burden the Third, connecting for 37 yards. The two-point conversion made it 30-27, but the defense could not stop Sellers and South Carolina from marching down the field, as Raheim Sanders plowed through tacklers on a 15-yard pass play with 15 seconds left to snatch the Mayor’s Cup from Mizzou.
Cook went 21 for 31 with one touchdown pass and 237 yards. He threw an interception with four seconds remaining. Sellers went 21 for 30 with 353 yards, five touchdowns, and one pick. Nate Noel led Mizzou’s offense with 150 yards and a score on 27 carries, while Theo Wease Junior led receivers with 85 yards on six catches.
Mizzou fall to 7-3 on the season, including a 3-3 mark in the SEC; all three losses were to ranked opponents on the road. Another road game awaits the Tigers next weekend, as they visit Starkville to face Mississippi State. Kickoff is at 3:15, with pregame at 1:15 on KMMO.