Brady Cook runs for 2 touchdowns as Missouri Tigers pitch shutout against Buffalo

For the first time since 1966 and first time to open a season since 1935, Missouri football held back-to-back opponents to zero points.

But the history-making performance did not come without a sluggish offensive start that ultimately blossomed into a 38-0 victory over Buffalo on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Quarterback Brady Cook’s first touchdown of the night flipped Missouri’s momentum after a slow start, and the senior later tried out an acrobatic dive over a pair of defenders into the end zone to seal a 17-point advantage at the half.

Cook’s theatrical touchdown run, which he began with a move he labeled the “Luther high-step,” came from 31 yards out, with running back Nate Noel coming through with a key downfield block to create room for Cook’s navigation.

“Today’s touchdown right before half was actually supposed to be a tight end throwback; tight end didn’t release,” coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “And so for (Cook) to tuck and go score right there ... I think another player who hasn’t had the reps or consistency would have panicked and maybe thrown the ball away. He understood, you know, where the ball and where the void of the defense was and made a heck of a play.”

The acrobatic play was the second rushing touchdown of the night for Cook, who completed 28 of 36 passes for 228 yards and added five rushes for 62 yards. Cook threw his first interception of the season to Buffalo cornerback Charles McCartherens at the end of the first drive of the third quarter, but his performance up to that point secured a dominant bounce-back for the Tigers’ offense after a slow start.

“He’s regulating the offense,” wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. said. “You know, we all trust him. He’s a warrior. He’s a soldier, everything you want in a quarterback.”

A 39-yard pass from Cook to Wease midway through the second quarter breathed energy into the stadium after the sluggish start, with the Tigers only amassing 71 yards and three points in the first quarter. Redshirt-freshman kicker Blake Craig connected on a 51-yard field goal at the 10:47 mark of the first quarter but missed a 49-yard attempt with 6:52 to go in the opening frame, one of two misses on the night for Craig.

Wease tied a career-high for catches in just the first half alone, with 10 catches for 105 yards, matching the 10 receptions he had against Vanderbilt last season. He surpassed the record on Missouri’s first drive of the third quarter but sat on the sideline until midway through the third with an apparent injury. Wease returned and caught two more passes, finishing with 13 catches for 149 yards.

“I was just trying to maximize every opportunity I got,” Wease said.

Wide receiver Luther Burden III’s touchdown just minutes into the second quarter marked his sole score for the evening. Burden left the field toward the end of the second half and didn’t return because of an illness, a decision Drinkwitz made since it wasn’t worth putting Burden back on the field, he said.

“When he’s not there, we don’t have quite the same repertoire,” Drinkwitz said. “... He’s a guy that we’ve got to continue to get the ball to.”

An area of weakness in Missouri’s offense as the season kicks off has been penalties. Missouri racked up 10 penalties for 80 yards Saturday through a series of false starts, illegal formations, holding calls and ineligible receivers — something Drinkwitz said are “self-inflicted wounds.” Out of all the penalties in the first and second games for Missouri, none was committed on the defensive side of the ball.

“That’s something we had (grown) from spring throughout fall,” sophomore safety Marvin Burks Jr. said. “Just knowing ... the team with the less penalties and that (is) playing physical and fast, those will be the teams most likely to come out with a W.”

The Tigers held Buffalo to 169 yards of total offense, including just 51 in the second half. Missouri’s defense, which entered the week No. 1 in total defense in the country, was on display throughout the winning effort.

Burks snagged an interception, the first of his collegiate career, with 9:38 remaining in the first quarter. His takeaway sparked a dominant all-around day defensively.

“Marvin, in particular, I think it’s his number change,” Wease said. “I think him getting back in 1, he got a little more swag to him.”

Halfway through the second quarter, linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. delivered a sack of Bulls quarterback C.J. Ogbonna, dropping him for a 5-yard loss. On the next drive, defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. added a sack for 2 yards.

Buffalo struggled to gain yardage throughout the evening, giving up another sack on its first drive of the fourth quarter to defensive end Jahkai Lang for 6 yards, Lang’s first collegiate sack. He followed up with defensive tackle Chris McClellan for another sack for 2 yards.

“Even though we started a little slow, just knowing the defense had our back, they’ll come to us and uplift us a little bit,” Wease said. “It’s a confidence booster, for sure.”

Throughout the second half, the Tigers rotated players on defense, showcasing their depth. Behind that consistency on defense, Missouri’s offense looked for ways to add on, which it eventually did.

Senior running back Nate Noel, who rushed for 73 yards, took a direct snap into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:00 remaining in the third quarter.

Running backs Marcus Carroll and Kewan Lacy also saw the field Saturday, rushing for 62 and 27 yards, respectively. After a series of rushes by Lacy down in Buffalo territory, Jamal Roberts capped the offensive show with a last-minute touchdown to seal the 38-point win.

“We’re 2-0. We scored 38 and 51. ... I’m pleased with where we’re at,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re not clicking at 100% just yet. That’s good news. That’s really good news for us.”

The Tigers next face Boston College at 11:45 a.m. this upcoming Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Eagles will likely be the toughest of Missouri’s nonconference opponents after they opened their season with a 28-13 win over Florida State in Week 1 and followed with a 56-0 win over Duquesne in Week 2.

Copyright 2024 Columbia Missourian

This story was originally published September 7, 2024 at 9:13 PM.