COLUMBIA, Mo. – Trailing by double digits early, the sixth-ranked University of Missouri football team scored 24 consecutive points to earn the 27-21 come-from-behind win against No. 24 Boston College in front of a sold-out crowd on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
With the victory, the Tigers remain unbeaten and have started the season 3-0 for the second straight year. The Eagles were handed their first defeat and now sit at 2-1.
Additionally, Mizzou has won a school record 19 consecutive home games over non-conference opponents dating back to Oct. 21, 2017, and have recorded seven straights wins, marking the nation’s longest winning streak.
The Eagles held a 14-3 edge with just under 10 minutes remaining in the opening half until the Tigers scored the final 14 points of the frame to take a three-point advantage into the break. Redshirt freshman kicker Blake Craig pulled Mizzou within eight following his 38-yard field goal before junior wide receiver Luther Burden III scored on a 19-yard catch and run with the ensuing two-point conversion squaring the contest at 14. Craig then recorded a career-long 56-yard field goal as time expired to hand the home side the 17-14 advantage at the half.
Mizzou added to its lead early in the third quarter when graduate student quarterback Brady Cook scored on a six-yard rush to extend the Tigers edge to 24-14. It remained a 10-point lead until 5:58 left to play when Craig registered his fourth field goal of the day to stretch the lead to 13. The Eagles added a consolation touchdown with 3:45 left but the Tigers held the ball the remainder of the game to seal the victory.
The Missouri defense limited Boston College to just 17 offensive yards during the third quarter, including minus nine rushing yards, to keep the visitors at bay. For the season, the Tigers have allowed only 177 total offensive yards in the second half. MU also took advantage of Boston College turnovers, turning a pair of interceptions into 10 points.
Mizzou had the edge in total offense, 440-295, and limited the Eagles to 46 rushing yards, marking the second opponent this season the Tigers held to under 60 rushing yards (Murray State, 58 yards). In addition, Missouri has allowed just 21 points this season, marking the fewest allowed after three games since 1973 (also 21).
Cook completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards with one touchdown. He now has 7,198 career passing yards and 1,076 rushing yards joining Brad Smith as the only Missouri signal callers with 7,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. Cook moved from No. 6 to No. 4 on Mizzou’s career passing yardage list, moving past Jeff Handy (6,959) and James Franklin (6,962). It was also the 13th time that Cook has rushed and passed for a touchdown in the same game, one off the school record of 14 co-held by Corby Jones and Smith.
Burden finished the game with six receptions for a season-best 117 yards, while graduate student running back Nate Noel posted 121 yards on 22 carries. Sophomore safety Marvin Burks Jr. and junior linebacker Triston Newson led the defense with five tackles each, while redshirt junior cornerback Dreyden Norwood and redshirt senior safety Tre’Vez Johnson recorded their first interceptions on the year.
UP NEXT
The Tigers close out a four-game homestand to kick off the season, opening Southeastern Conference play by hosting the Vanderbilt Commodores. Game time on Saturday, Sept. 21, will be either 2:30 p.m. or 3:15 p.m. CT on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised by either ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or the SEC Network.
Exact time and network will be determined following the results of the Sept. 14 games.
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A limited number of reserved single-game tickets remain available for the Arkansas game. Reserved season tickets have sold out as well as single-game reserved tickets for games against Vanderbilt, Auburn and Oklahoma.
Purchase single-game tickets now by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or buying online.
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