Mizzou WR Luther Burden III breaks away from Florida’s Mannie Nunnery during Saturday night’s SEC football game at Faurot Field. (Photo: Terrance Williams)

NCAA Football1st2nd3rd4thFinal
Florida (5-6, 3-5)70141031
#9 Missouri (9-2, 5-2)310101033

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

COLUMBIA, MO — A back and forth ballgame, which featured nine lead changes — six in the second half — and as much drama as any high-rated movie or tv show on air right now, came down to the right foot of University of Missouri placekicker Harrison Mevis.

And just as he’s done so many times before, including a record-setting 61-yarder that lifted Missouri over rival Kansas State earlier this season, The Thicker Kicker delivered.

Mevis banged home a 30-yard field goal with five seconds left to give Mizzou the final edge in a thrilling 33-31 win over Florida, Saturday night at Faurot Field.

“That’s what they brought me here to do,” an ecstatic Mevis said during a postgame press conference. “That’s my job. To make big kicks and help this team win games. Gotta credit our offense for getting us down there and in position. But my job is to be ready to make the kicks. Field goals, extra-points, whatever they need. I’m glad I was able to come through.”

And so was the sellout crowd of 62,621 — Missouri’s fifth straight home sellout — that was holding its breath, after Florida had just taken a 31-30 lead on a field goal of its own with 1:36 left in the game.

The Gators facing all kinds of adversity, with several injured starters not playing, then losing their starting quarterback late in the third quarter, and in desperate need of a win to gain bowl eligibility were down 30-21, but rallied with a touchdown and the late field goal to take the lead.

The stunned Missouri sideline thought it had done enough to put the game away, but with a little more than 90 seconds left, the Tigers were behind.

“Man, when we scored to go up 30-21, I thought that was the dagger,” Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “But you’ve gotta credit Florida for their own resiliency to come back.

“But we knew we had enough time. We just had to execute. We’ve been through so much and been down in the depths with some really tough losses before. I think having experienced that helped us know we could get down the field there and win this game. I’m proud of my guys.”

The lowest point came when Missouri was facing 4th down and 17 yards to go with 33 seconds left. But quarterback Brady Cook remained in the huddle and in the pocket and found receiver Luther Burden III for a 27 yard gain that gave Mizzou a first down and stopped the clock.

Then, two plays later Cook hit Mekhi Miller for an 11 yard gain to put the ball at Florida’s 29 with 13 seconds left. At that point, some were suggesting that Mizzou attempt the field goal then, to be sure it accidentally run out the clock.

But the Tigers stayed aggressive and Cook hit Mookie Cooper for a 16 yard game to Florida’s 13, which set up Mevis for the game-winner.

“We knew what we wanted to do there,” Cook said. “We practice it every day. We go through our two-minute plays and work on our two-minute drill every day.”

It clearly paid off, as Mizzou went from desperation mode to ultra-confident mode with Mevis coming in to attempt a field goal that’s very much in his range.

“It was ‘Money Mevis’ time,” Drinkwitz said. “You all call him the ‘Thicker Kicker’, but I call him ‘Money Mevis’ because that’s what he is. He’s money in those moments.”

The finish was a dramatic conclusion to a thrilling ballgame that saw Missouri score first, on a field goal on its opening drive, only to have Florida answer right back with a touchdown to take the lead 7-3.

Missouri re-took the lead on the second play of the second quarter, when running back Cody Schrader broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run that put the Tigers ahead 10-7.

Mevis added another field goal just before halftime to put Mizzou up 13-7 at the break. Florida scored a touchdown on its first drive of the second half to make it 14-13. But Mizzou answered right back, with a 1-yard run by Cook to go ahead 20-14.

The Gators didn’t waver. They scored three plays later and went back ahead 21-20.

Missouri put together one of its finest drives of the night on its next possession, but only got three points out of it after two touchdown passes were called back — one for a penalty, the other after a video review determined the receiver didn’t make the catch.

Florida drove the ball to Missouri’s 15 on its next drive and seemed ready to re-take the lead, but a mishandled handoff resulted in a fumble, which Missouri’s Khristian Williams recovered to keep the Gators from scoring any points.

On Missouri’s next drive, Cook hit Theo Wease for a short pass, which Wease turned into a 77-yard touchdown by breaking through the Florida secondary and racing up the right sideline untouched. That was the play Drinkwitz thought would put the game away.

But Florida answered, by scoring a touchdown and adding the late field goal to go ahead.

That set up the final dramatics, which Mevis capped with his fourth field goal of the night.

“What a way to send the senior class out,” Drinkwitz said. “This game is kind of the story of their career, having to face so (much) adversity. I’m really proud of them.”

The No. 9-ranked Tigers (9-2 overall, 5-2 in SEC play) will close out the regular season with the annual Battle Line Rivalry game, next Friday against Arkansas. That game will be played in Fayetteville and will kick off at 3 p.m.

Scoring Summary

QtrTimeScoring PlayFLAMIZ
1st10:33MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 22 yd field goal 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 04:2703
1st07:49FLA – Wilson III,Eugene 8 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Smack,Trey kick) 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:3973
2nd14:29MIZ – Schrader,Cody 42 yd run (Mevis,Harrison kick), 3 plays, 51 yards, TOP 00:58710
2nd01:21MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 38 yd field goal 7 plays, 41 yards, TOP 02:42713
3rd11:54FLA – Etienne,Trevor 37 yd pass from Mertz,Graham (Smack,Trey kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:061413
3rd08:53MIZ – Cook,Brady 1 yd run (Mevis,Harrison kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:011420
3rd07:16FLA – Pearsall,Ricky 39 yd run (Smack,Trey kick), 3 plays, 82 yards, TOP 01:302120
3rd03:53MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 24 yd field goal 7 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:232123
4th13:14MIZ – Wease,Theo 77 yd pass from Cook,Brady (Mevis,Harrison kick) 2 plays, 81 yards, TOP 00:472130
4th07:49FLA – Etienne,Trevor 9 yd run (Smack,Trey kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:252830
4th01:36FLA – Smack,Trey 35 yd field goal 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 03:083130
4th00:05MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 30 yd field goal 12 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:313133

2023 Missouri Tigers Football Remaining Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTV
November 24, 2023 (Friday)3:00 PMAwayArkansasFayetteville, Ark.CBS
TBATBANeutralBowl GameTBATBA