RECAP: Late offensive and defensive heroics lift Mizzou to victory in renewed rivalry
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz has said it time and time again in his Mizzou tenure: football is a four quarter game. Nothing proved that more than the win his team grabbed in the renewed rivalry against Oklahoma on Saturday night.
After posting less than 100 yards of total offense in the first half, backup quarterback Drew Pyne helped his team climb all the way back into the game, after trailing 9-3 going into the locker room.
"You know, whatever it takes," he said. "I'd be willing to die out there. I don't care. I love these guys and they've given me such a great opportunity to lead this team and I'm just so thankful of it."
Pyne, who played for an injured Brady Cook, threw for 120 yards in the final two quarters, including three touchdowns, to get the comeback win over the Sooners.
"I just can't sa how proud I am of Drew Pyne, for all the crap he's taken," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. "He goes out there and delivers in the keyest moments, in the fourth quarter, after fans have been booing and he just goes out there and delivers."
The comeback wasn't easy, though. Even after Pyne and the offense grabbed a 16-9 lead in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma fought back.
The Sooners scored two touchdowns in less than two minutes. The first, coming on a flea flicker, where quarterback Jackson Arnold got into the end zone to tie the game at 23. The second, coming when running back Jamal Roberts fumbled the football and Oklahoma scooped and scored to take the lead.
With less than two minutes to play, things look bleak. However, the Tigers never had a doubt.
"I'd say, in my own confidence, I never waver,' Pyne said.
In 57 seconds, Pyne led the offense on an eight-play, 75-yard drive which ended in a 10-yard beauty of a touchdown to Theo Wease Jr., who ended with two touchdowns on the night.
With a tie in hand, the Tigers said no to overtime. During the Sooners' last drive of regulation, linebacker Triston Newson forced a fumble, which defensive end Zion Young scooped and scored for the game-winning touchdown.
"It was a surreal moment," Young said. "Grab it, pick it up, it's a city ball, take it to the end zone."
It was a total team effort from a group that's been grappling with injuries over the past few weeks.
You can watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones' full recap of the game on ABC 17 SportsZone at 9:30 on Fox 22 and 10:30 on ABC 17.
