Mizzou Tigers’ grades from loss at Florida? Average. And average gets you beat in SEC
.JPG "Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook was 22 of 30 for 220 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions, against the Florida Gators Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.")
Here are our grades from Missouri’s 24-17 loss to the Florida Gators, the Tigers’ third straight defeat to start the SEC portion of their 2022 football schedule:
Play of the game
With about 8 1/2 minutes remaining and Missouri trailing 24-10, the Tigers faced a third-and-22. from their 42. Running back Cody Schrader leaked out to the flat to catch the pass. He eluded one tackler, split another pair of Gators and picked up the first down with a 27-yard gain.
Player of the game
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire had one of the most productive games of his career. His seven tackles were a season best and his three tackles for a loss was a career high for the senior from Tulsa, Okla., with one year of eligibility remaining.
Stat of the game
The Tigers put up 370 total yards, their most in an SEC game this season. But Cook’s two interceptions were costly, with one returned for a touchdown and another stopping a drive in the red zone.
Grades
Offense: C
Running back Nathaniel Peat continues to run hard. His 117 rushing yards included an 18-yard touchdown run and marks a career best. He’s topped 100 in two of the past three games and the Stanford transfer who went to high school in Columbia is having his best season yet.
But in SEC games the Tigers just don’t get enough done on this side of the ball. A bright spot: Freshman wide receiver Mekhi Miller, a Blue Valley North product, caught his second and third passes of the season.
Defense: B
The Tigers’ defense gave Missouri every chance to have a halftime lead, holding the Gators to a field goal. Florida’s first-half touchdown came on pick-six. But the game was tied 10-10 at the break and the Gators delivered a punishing running game in the second half, collecting 212 yards on the ground after the break.
Mizzou came up with a big defensive play with three minutes remaining, when Daylan Carnell pulled down an interception.
Special teams: C
In a close game, special teams play is magnified. Florida opened the scoring with a field goal after a 48-yard punt return.
Coaching: C
For the third straight week, Missouri lost a close game to an SEC opponent. The Tigers’ combined margin of defeat in losses to Florida, Georgia and Auburn is 14 points.
Against the Gators, Mizzou moved to midfield on its final possession. Trailing by seven, the Tigers couldn’t convert on fourth-and-2. Little things make a different in close games, and this team still has an issue with penalties: MU was flagged six times Saturday, Florida only once.
Next up
Missouri’s bye week comes at the midway point of the season. The Tigers’ season resumes on Oct. 22 with a home game against Vanderbilt. The kickoff time hasn’t been announced.