COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri had the college football world and the top-ranked and defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs on upset alert for much of the game Saturday night on Faurot Field, but Georgia (5-0, 2-0) wriggled off the hook in the second half and prevailed for a 26-22 victory.
The Tigers (2-3, 0-2) started fast and held a 16-6 halftime lead, but the ‘Dawgs regained their footing and scored on their first four possessions of the second half and used their final possession to run out the clock.
Mizzou’s defense held Georgia out of the end zone until 9:39 left in the game, when Kendall Milton plunged in from the one-yard line to draw Georgia to within 22-19. When the Tigers got the ball, they appeared to pick up a big first down at the Georgia 38-yard line on a nine-yard completion from Brady Cook to Barrett Banister with a defender riding his back. But Missouri was flagged for an illegal hands to the face penalty and eventually was forced to punt. Georgia then moved 68 yards on seven plays and got back into the end zone on a one-yard run by Daijun Edwards.
Harrison Mevis kicked five field goals for Missouri, tying the school record, and he became the first MU kicker to boot four or more than 40 yards in the same game. Missouri’s defense set the early tone, limiting Georgia to just nine plays in the first quarter, and forcing two first-half fumbles. It was the first time Georgia had failed to score on its first possession this season.
The Tigers jumped out to a 13-0 lead with Mevis kicking 41- and 49-yard field goals wrapped around an 81-yard touchdown drive on which Cook hit a wide-open Tyler Stephens with a 10-yard TD pass.
Georgia got on the board with a 40-yard field goal from Jack Podlesny with 6:36 remaining before halftime, but when Missouri got the ball back, Cody Schrader broke free up the middle and sprinted 63 yards down the field before Georgia’s Malaki Starks got him to the ground inside the one-yard line. A false start penalty backed MU up five yards, and after two one-yard runs, the Tigers had to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Mevis. On the last play of the half, Podlesny kicked a field goal of 34 yards.
Mizzou held a 194-182 advantage at the half in total offensive yardage, and the Tiger defenders had harassed Georgia QB Stetson Bennett into 10-of-24 passing. Mevis kicked field goals of 52 and 56 yards in the second half, and Podlesny added another of 29 yards.
Georgia held Mizzou to 100 total yards in the second half, while gaining 299 of its own. Bennett recovered to complete 24-of-44 passes for 312 yards. Cook was 20-of-32 for 192 yards and a TD for the Tigers. Schrader let the MU rushing attack with 89 yards on six carries, and Dominic Lovett was the top receiver with six catches for 84 yards.
Missouri defenders had nine tackles for loss, two sacks, seven quarterback hurries, six passes broken up and one forced fumble. Jaylon Carlies was the top tackler with 13 (11 solo) and Joseph Charleston had 10.
UP NEXT
The Tigers hit the road to face the Florida Gators on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. CT (ESPNU).
