RECAP: Mizzou dedicates dominant defensive effort to teammate in emotional Week 2 win

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No. 6 Mizzou Football accomplished a feat in Week 2 that the program hasn't achieved in nearly 90 years. First-year MU defensive coordinator Corey Batoon's defense opened the season with two straight shutouts, following Saturday's 38-0 win over Buffalo. The last time Mizzou's defense held an opponent to zero points in the first two games of a new campaign was 1935.

Batoon's defense played that game with heavy hearts. Mizzou defensive end Eddie Kelly Jr.'s mom unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday. In an emotional early season game, the Tigers supported and rallied around their teammate with an inspired defensive performance, recording three sacks, five tackles for loss and an interception.

"For [Eddie] to still be here, and for our team to play the way they did around him tonight, whether it was the defense, that's who they said they were playing for, was a special moment," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. "You all got to watch something special tonight for our defense to play like that for Eddie."

"It was very emotional," Mizzou safety Marvin Burks Jr. said. "The guys kind of knew we got to play for Eddie and his family. Eddie's still coming out here to play with us, as well, so we wanted to make sure we got that win."

You can watch a full recap of Mizzou's Week 2 win from ABC 17's Kyle Helms in the video player above.