Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook breaks free from a tackler during the Tigers’ key SEC football game at Kentucky, Saturday night in Lexington. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

NCAA Football – Oct. 14, 20231st2nd3rd4thFinal
Missouri (6-1, 2-1)01731838
#24 Kentucky (5-2, 2-2)1407021

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

LEXINGTON, KY — For the first 18 minutes of Saturday night’s key SEC football game between Missouri and Kentucky, the visiting Tigers were getting bullied.

The Wildcats were pushing Missouri players wherever they wanted and moving the ball however they wanted. So much so, that Kentucky jumped out to a 14-0 lead and was in position to maybe make it more.

Then, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz called a fake punt that resulted in a touchdown for the Tigers. After that, everything changed.

And with that change, Missouri outscored Kentucky 38-7 in the final three quarters and laid what turned out to be a smackdown win on the Wildcats, with a final score of 38-21.

“I’ve talked about the character of this team and the leadership of this team,” Drinkwitz said. “(That’s) unbelievable. To fight back from down 14 to nothing and score 38 to win the game. The defense was unbelievable in the second half. And man, that’s a big time win.”

It truly was a big win. It was Mizzou’s first win in Lexington since 2013 and it made the Tigers bowl-eligible in October for the first time since 2014. The victory was also Missouri’s second win this season over a ranked opponent. The Tigers defeated then No. 15-ranked Kansas State on September 16.

“I’m just so proud of these guys and how they fought back,” Drinkwitz said. “We know we have a special group and we just want to keep pushing and see how far we can go.”

Missouri’s offense had been led all season by native St. Louisans Luther Burden, Brady Cook, and Cody Schrader. So no one would’ve guessed the key play on Saturday would come on a pass thrown by another native St. Louisan, punter Luke Bauer.

But that’s what happened when Mizzou lined up in punt formation on 4th and 10 from the Kentucky 39 yard line. Bauer was in his normal spot, behind the line, looking like he was going to kick the ball away.

Instead though, he launched a deep pass down the left sideline, which speedy wideout and sometime special teams player Marquis Johnson caught at the 12-yard line, before spinning and running into the end zone for a touchdown.

The play fired up the entire Mizzou sideline and turned what had been a miserable start into an energized and inspired final 12 minutes of the first half. The Tigers added a Harrison Mevis field goal and an 18-yard touchdown toss from Cook to Theo Wease to go into halftime leading 17-14.

“I just think there was a relief there,” Drinkwitz said. “We talked about how this was gonna be a heavyweight fight. I have a ton of respect for Coach Stoops and his team.

The third quarter was a big more back and forth, with Mizzou picking up another Mevis field goal, following a Kentucky turnover. Then the Wildcats going ahead 21-20, thanks to a 4-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary to Anthony Brown-Stephens.

That led into a fourth quarter that was all Mizzou. The Tigers outscored the Wildcats 18-0, thanks to touchdown runs by Cook and Schrader and a third field goal by Mevis.

The Mizzou defense shined in the fourth as well, as it not only held Kentucky scoreless, but sacked Leary twice on key plays and ended two late drives with interceptions.

“The defense was just dynamite in that second half,” Drinkwitz said. “They just really turned it up and kept making the plays we needed to shut those guys down and give our offense the ball back.”

Cook finished the day with 207 total yards (167 passing, 40 rushing), one touchdown rushing, and one passing. Schrader had 71 yards rushing and a touchdown. And Wease finished with six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Darius Robinson led the team with six tackles and two quarterback sacks. Kris Abrams-Draine and Marcus Clarke had the two interceptions.

Mizzou will now turn its attention to Homecoming weekend, when it will host South Carolina in another SEC game, next Saturday at Faurot Field. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on SEC Network.

Scoring Summary

QtrTimeScoring PlayMIZUK
1st08:32UK – Davis,Ray 7 yd pass from Leary,Devin (Raynor,Alex kick) 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:4607
1st02:09UK – Leary,Devin 13 yd run (Raynor,Alex kick), 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:58014
2nd11:38MIZ – Johnson,Marquis 39 yd pass from Bauer,Luke (Mevis,Harrison kick) 6 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:12714
2nd04:44MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 25 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 04:551014
2nd00:15MIZ – Wease,Theo 18 yd pass from Cook,Brady (Mevis,Harrison kick) 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:251714
3rd11:54MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 31 yd field goal 6 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:532014
3rd03:39UK – Brown-Stephens,Anthony 4 yd pass from Leary,Devin (Raynor,Alex kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 03:312021
4th14:14MIZ – Cook,Brady 1 yd run (Schrader,Cody rush), 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 04:162821
4th11:07MIZ – Schrader,Cody 19 yd run (Mevis,Harrison kick), 3 plays, 34 yards, TOP 00:573521
4th03:17MIZ – Mevis,Harrison 29 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:583821

2023 MISSOURI TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateGametimeAtOpponentLocationTV
October 21, 2023 (Saturday)2:30 PMHomeSouth CarolinaFaurot Field
November 4, 2023 (Saturday)TBAAway#1 GeorgiaAthens, Ga.
November 11, 2023 (Saturday)TBAHomeTennesseeFaurot Field
November 18, 2023 (Saturday)TBAHomeFloridaFaurot Field
November 24, 2023 (Friday)3:00 PMAwayArkansasFayetteville, Ark.CBS