KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Mizzou Football fell to 0-2 on the season after dropping a 35-12 contest at No. 21 Tennessee Saturday afternoon (Oct. 3) at Neyland Stadium. Junior All-SEC linebacker Nick Bolton (Frisco, Texas) had another monster game for the Tigers, totaling a game- and career-high 17 tackles in the loss. Senior running back Larry Rountree III (Raleigh, N.C.) totaled 84 yards on 18 attempts on the ground and now sits just 55 yards shy of fourth place on Mizzou’s career rushing list. He added a third-quarter touchdown as well, the 27th of his career to tie Brock Olivo for seventh all-time.
Third and fourth downs proved to be the difference Saturday as Tennessee sustained long drives thanks to a combined 10-for-17 mark on third and fourth downs (4-for-4 on fourth) while Mizzou was just 8-of-17 (2-of-3 on fourth). The Tigers also had several promising drives stall out, settling for a pair of field goals with another ending in a first-down interception.
RECAP
Tennessee jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 14-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a Ty Chandler three-yard run. The Vols converted two fourth-down conversions on the drive, one in their own territory and another from inside the five, one play before the game’s first score.
Mizzou fell behind, 14-0, but made things interesting late in the first half by cutting the lead to just one score after back-to-back field goal from true freshman Harrison Mevis (Warsaw, Ind.), with just 4:17 remaining in the half. With Mizzou getting the ball back to start the second half, the Tigers were one stop away from getting the ball back with a chance to tie the game. However, Tennessee took the ball and went 75 yards in just eight plays to extend its lead to 21-6 at the break. Tennessee punched in another touchdown on its first drive of the season half.
The Tigers countered with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a one-yard TD run from Rountree, the 27th of his career. Then, Mizzou forced a quick three-and-out thanks to a huge third-down sack from Isaiah McGuire (Tulsa, Okla.), the first of his career. Mizzou took the ball back at its own 35-yardline and looked to be moving the ball until Bazelak was intercepted on a pass looking for TE Daniel Parker, Jr. (Kansas City, Mo.) with 12:14 remaining in the game. Tennessee found pay dirt on the ensuing drive to put the game away.
TOP TIGERS
- Junior LB Nick Bolton posted a career-high 17 tackles Saturday, his sixth career game with 10+ tackles. The 17 tackles are the most by a Tiger since Kentrell Brothers had 17 against Georgia on Oct. 17, 2015.
- Sophomore DB Martez Manuel tallied a career-high nine tackles Saturday.
- Senior RB Larry Rountree III posted 84 yards on 18 carries with a score. He is now 55 yards shy of fourth on Mizzou’s all-time rushing list and tied for seventh all-time on Mizzou rushing TD list with his one-yard plunge in the third quarter.
- RS freshman QB Connor Bazelak went 13-for-21 for 218 yards Saturday.
- True freshman Harrison Mevis connected on a pair of first-half field goals, including one from 50 yards, becoming the first Mizzou freshman kicker to connect from 50+ yards since Jeff Jacke in 1988.
UP NEXT
Next up, Mizzou travels to Baton Rouge, La., next Saturday (Oct. 10) to take on the defending national champion, LSU. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.
For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to www.MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouFootball) and like the team on Facebook and Instagram.
