Takeaways from Mizzou’s 21-17 loss to Kentucky, including a crushing late penalty on MU
.JPG "The Kentucky Wildcats celebrate after recovering a fumble by Missouri quarterback Brady Cook, center, during Saturday’s game in Columbia, Mo.")
For a moment on Saturday, Missouri appeared to catch the break of the game.
Trailing 21-17 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining against Kentucky at Faurot Field, the Tigers’ defense forced a punt. The snap sailed over the head of Wildcats punter Colin Goodfellow.
Goodfellow frantically chased down and collected the ball near the goal line. He got off a wobbly boot on the run just a split-second before being hit by Missouri’s Will Norris.
At worst, it seemed, Mizzou would have the ball near the Kentucky 25. But Norris was flagged for roughing the kicker, Kentucky retained possession and the Wildcats finished off a 21-17 SEC victory.
On a day when the Tigers announced a two-year contract extension for head coach Eli Drinkwitz, Mizzou fell to 4-5 (2-4 SEC)
Here are some takeaways from the game:
Now what?
After trailing most of the way Saturday, Missouri took a brief lead in the fourth quarter.
If the Tigers had pulled it out, they’d be one step closer to bowl eligibility. Instead, with the loss, Missouri needs to win two of its final three three games to reach the six required for postseason play.
Here’s what left for MU: next Saturday at Tennessee, then home games against New Mexico State and Arkansas in the final two weeks.
Offense finally Cooks
Missouri’s offense came to life ... finally.
Near the end of the third quarter, the Tigers had accumulated just 98 total yards and three points. But touchdown drives on successive possessions gave Mizzou a 17-14 lead.
Quarterback Brady Cook scored them both in dramatic fashion. His option-keeper on a fourth down from the 1 got the Tigers on the board with 13:09 remaining. Then, when Mizzou got the ball back, Cook made a big play through the air, a 27-yard strike to freshman Luther Burden.
From the 20, Cook called his own number on a draw, broke a tackle at the 10 and scored his second TD for the Tigers’ first lead.
Still, it was a poor game for the offense overall. Cook was stopped on a fourth-and-1 keeper and lost a fumble.
Kentucky responds
The Tigers’ lead was short-lived, and trouble started brewing almost immediately after Mizzou took it.
A Missouri squib kick wasn’t well executed and Kentucky took over at the 42. A horse-collar tackle penalty gave Kentucky 15 yards. The Tigers thought they had a fumble recovery by Ennis Rakestraw in the red zone, but a review overturned the call.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis connected with freshman Dane Key on third and 11 from the 22 for the go-ahead touchdown with 5:18 remaining.
Mayday punt nearly works
The Tigers almost made best of a bad situation.
In the third quarter, Missouri faced fourth-and-4 from its own 31. Punter Jack Stonehouse dropped the snap and took off. For a moment, it looked like he’d beaten the defender to the first-down stick. But he came up 1 yard short.
Kentucky now owned a short field and took advantage with its second touchdown to open a 14-3 lead.
Chippy play
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was sprinting out of bounds for a 3-yard gain on the final play of the first quarter.
Missouri tackle Trajan Jeffcoat pushed Levis as he reached the sideline; no penalty was called. But seconds later, a shoving match involving many players broke out along the Kentucky sideline.
Once the players were separated, one penalty was assessed: unsportsmanlike conduct on the Tigers’ Josh Landry, after the play.
Mizzou was fired up by the call. Two of the Tigers’ four first-half sacks, by safety Joseph Charleston and linebacker Ty’Ron Hooper, came in the next three plays, and the Wildcats were forced to punt.
This story was originally published November 5, 2022 at 2:50 PM.