Grades from Missouri football’s win over Vanderbilt and looking ahead to No. 1 Georgia
The Missouri Tigers broke a five-game SEC losing streak when they picked up a crucial 37-28 victory over Vanderbilt on the road on Saturday.
Here are grades for all three Mizzou units, the best highlight of the game and a look ahead to next weekend’s contest against North Texas.
PLAY OF THE GAME
This was a tough one to pick between running back Tyler Badie’s 73-yard run to set up the game-winning touchdown and the Hail Mary play to end the first half, but the latter is going to take the cake. Quarterback Connor Bazelak threw up a pass 45 yards into the end zone with 4 seconds left and wide receiver Keke Chism caught it over defenders for the score, giving Mizzou a 17-14 lead.
GRADES
Offense: B. The offense put up 37 points and 502 total yards (284 rushing, 218 passing) in the victory. Mizzou kept things going even when Bazelak left the game with an injury, much in part to an incredible performance from Badie. The running back had a career-high 254 yards on 31 attempts and two touchdowns. The biggest knocks on the unit were that it stalled for a period in the first and second quarters, went 4-for-12 on third down conversion attempts and Bazelak threw an interception.
Defense: D-. The defense came up with some stops in key moments, but giving up 28 points to Vanderbilt is astonishingly bad. The Commodores hadn’t scored that many points against a Power Five opponent since a loss to LSU at the beginning of the 2020 season. Mizzou also allowed the home team to net 258 yards on the ground, including runs of 69 and 70 yards by backup quarterback Mike Wright.
Special teams: A. Kicker Harrison Mevis has delivered time and time again this season. The sophomore had field goals of 46 yards, 32 yards and 52 yards in the win, and he has now hit 19 consecutive field goals. Add in a blocked punt and the special teams unit had about as good of an outing as you could ask for.
LOOKING AHEAD
Missouri is back on the road to face No. 1 Georgia on Saturday, Nov. 6. The game will kick-off at 11 a.m. Central time and air on ESPN.
This story was originally published October 31, 2021 at 10:37 AM.
