Mizzou’s defense lifted the team to victory when the plays mattered most, surviving a double overtime scrape with Auburn on the road Saturday night in a 23-17 victory.
The win moves the Tigers (from Columbia)
to 6-1 on the season and clinches bowl eligibility.
Death Row Defense forced a field goal attempt in the game’s first overtime, and the kick was blocked. Mizzou had an opportunity to seal the victory on its first overtime drive, but Robert Meyer’s 38-yard attempt missed just wide left.
The team quickly bounced back, scoring on the next possession in the second overtime on a 3-yard keeper by Beau Pribula. The touchdown came four plays after the first year starter connected with Kevin Coleman, Jr., for a 12-yard reception on third-and-long.
Corey Batoon’s defense shut down Auburn on the final possession of the contest, pressuring Jackson Arnold to make an illegal throw to his own offensive lineman on fourth down to put the game to bed.
Auburn’s defensive front dominated throughout the game, manhandling a Mizzou offensive line that has looked shaky at times throughout the season.
Kirby Moore’s once-potent rushing attack again ground to a halt. The offense was limited to 91 rushing yards by their hosts on The Plains and an average of 2.1 yards per carry.
Pribula was also hounded by the Auburn defensive front. The first year starter looked uncomfortable in the pocket and struggled to consistently connect with his receivers.
He ended the game with a 57% completion percentage, throwing for 252 yards with no passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
Mizzou got on the board late in the first quarter with a 24-yard field goal by Robert Meyer. The team began the drive at the Auburn 29 following an interception by Toriano Pride, Jr., but the offense failed to fully capitalize on the opportunity.
The score gave them momentum, though, and Mizzou took a 10-7 lead on its next offensive drive on a two-yard run by Ahmad Hardy.
The team would not score again until 5:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Auburn’s offense faced similar struggles after a 12 play, 75-yard scoring drive to begin the game. The hosts were held scoreless on their next five drives, including two missed field goals by Alex McPherson.
But explosive plays and penalties eventually wore Batoon’s defense down. Mizzou was hit by three defensive penalties, each of them 15 yards.
One of the infractions came on the opening drive, when Marvin Burks, Jr., was called for defensive pass interference on fourth down.
Another flag came on Auburn’s second scoring drive, as Nicholas Rodriguez was called for an obvious hit out of bounds on Jackson Arnold.
The hosts scored seven plays later on a one-yard rush by Omar Mabson II that put them ahead 14-10, taking advantage of both errors in discipline.
Auburn had a chance to cement the lead on its next drive following a Mizzou three-and-out, moving the ball all the way to the one-yard line. The Mizzou defense held strong, forcing a 27-yard field goal by McPherson, to open the door for a comeback.
Mizzou took advantage of the opening as Pribula moved his unit downfield following another stop by the defense. The team was also helped by two Auburn penalties, and they knotted the score at 17 after a two-yard rush by Hardy.
Drinkwitz and Co. forced another punt to get the ball back with 2:58 remaining and moved the ball to the Auburn 37. But a sack, errant backward pass and false start call moved Mizzou out of field goal range before Pribula threw an interception on a 50/50 ball.
Auburn took a knee after the pick, sending the game to overtime.
The offensive struggles and late miscues could have combined to sink Mizzou. But once again, the black and gold Tigers found a way to win a one-score game.
