Ahmad Hardy set the Mizzou single-season record for career rushing yards, but there’s at least two that he and the Tiger faithful are wishing he had the opportunity to earn, as the Tigers fell flat after the opening drive in a 13-7 Gator Bowl loss Saturday, Dec. 27 to the Virginia Cavaliers in Jacksonville, Fla.
Hardy surpassed the record set just two years before by Cody Schrader when he was given the ball four times in the fourth quarter with the Tigers trailing 13-7. However, after those four runs, Hardy was called to the sidelines on a crucial fourth and two with just over two minutes remaining. Rather than wait for the two-minute time out, quarterback Matt Zollers took the ball himself toward the sticks at Virginia’s 40, but ended up a yard short. Despite turning the ball over on downs, Mizzou had recorded their first first down after halftime. Mizzou’s defense got a rare three-and-out to set up another comeback opportunity for the Tigers, but a rough tackle to Zollers on a third-down pass resulted in walk-on quarterback Brett Brown coming in to set up the Hail Mary attempt. His pass was delivered to Daniel Blood in the end zone, but a Virginia defender knocked it out of his hands before he could secure possession.
The Tigers had scored on the opening drive, set up by a 43-yard run by Hardy. Two plays later, Jamal Roberts rushed in for the score. The two sides then had drives stall near midfield on unsuccessful fourth-down plays. Virginia would get on the board with a field goal early in the second quarter. The Tigers offense was non-existent in the third quarter, as Virginia used the first ten minutes of the half to go 75 yards in 19 plays, converting twice on fourth down and three more times on third down before Harrison Waylee put the Cavaliers ahead 10-7. Zollers threw an interception on the Tigers’ first drive, which set up a Virginia field goal to bring about the final score.
Zollers finished the night 12-for-22 for 101 yards, having missed the final play for a concussion check. Ahmad Hardy carried the ball 15 times for 89 yards, while Jamal Roberts ran the ball 11 times for 56 yards. Chandler Morris went 25-for-38 for the Hoos, throwing for 198 yards, with four catches by Eli Wood totaling 71 yards. Waylee carried the rock 20 times for 68 yards and the score. Virginia dominated the time of possession with 38 minutes of offense, where they went 13-for-23 on third down and two-for-four on fourth.
The Tigers season ends with an 8-5 mark, having lost all five games to ranked opponents.