RECAP: Mizzou escapes non-conference slate unbeaten
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
After securing a statement win on the road against Kansas, the Tigers returned to Columbia on Saturday to face their final test before SEC play begins.
If they were to enter that week with their undefeated season in tact, they'd need to take down another 2-0 team in the Troy Trojans. Despite falling behind early, a 24-0 run pushed Mizzou to its third win of the season, 27-17.
While the team secured the result they were hoping for, head coach Eli Drinkwitz was far from impressed with his squad's performance.
"Giving up a 73 yard touchdown right out of the gate was not on the bingo list," Drinkwitz said. "Then, offensively, just poor never had a rhythm, never had an answer, always playing behind."
The Tigers finished with fewer total yards than the Trojans, 323-230. Quarterback Austin Simmons only completed 10 passes on the day for 91 yards.
"Inability to get him in a rhythm, inability for him and the wide outs to be on the same page. Never got him comfortable. I don't think we had any sacks, you know, but we got to get him comfortable," said Drinkwitz on what he thought contributed to Simmons' struggles.
With the offense struggling to find some legs, Mizzou was looking for anything to give the team some juice after falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter.
The Tigers managed to get onto the board with a field goal, and five minutes into the second quarter, DaMarion Fowlkes returned a punt 68 yards for the first touchdown of the game.
"When I caught it, I had seen that my teammates did a great job. They span everybody, so we just hit the middle and just gashed it," Fowlkes said.
The play sparked life onto the Mizzou sideline, and the defense followed suit forcing two turnovers before the half. Just two drives after the return touchdown, cornerback Sione Laulea jumped a pass and snagged his first interception with the team.
"So I covered a few early on in the game and with the look I was getting, I kind of knew was coming slide that, pick off the ball and ran where I could," Laulea said.
Simmons was able to connect with Olugbode to find the end zone for the third straight game to convert on the field position. The offense got back into the painted area on the very next drive with a Jamal Roberts run, after the defense had forced a second turnover.
"Defensively, I'm really glad we got those two take aways. We needed those," Drinkwitz said.
Even with some of the struggles on the offensive end, running back Jamal Roberts had another solid night, picking up 128 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
"I just get the ball and run," Roberts said. "So I mean, I really don't think about how many carries I get, just maximizing the opportunity once the ball in my hand."
Mizzou took a 24-17 lead into the break, and would go on to hold Troy scoreless in the final two quarters, and helped the Tigers keep the Trojans at bay.
"You can't change what happened in the first half, we came out with a 0-0 mindset and just played ball," said safety Santana Banner.
Up Next - The Tigers set their sights on a road match up against Mississippi State to begin its SEC slate. Kick off is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.
