‘Death Row Defense’ powers Tigers past Aggies for the first time since 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
No. 14 Mizzou held Texas A&M out of the end zone on its way to a 27-6 victory.
You can watch extended highlights of the win in the video player below.
Entering week six, the Tigers had lost three straight games against the Aggies dating back to 2014. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz came out victorious in this match up for the first time thanks to a stout defensive outing.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Drinkwitz in the video player below.
After forcing Texas A&M to punt on the opening possession, the Tiger offense was looking to capitalize. But on just his third pass attempt of the game, quarterback Austin Simmons threw his first interception of the season, giving the Aggies a short field to work with.
Death Row Defense had just 14 yards to work with and prevent a score, and thanks to a Trajen Greco tip, Elijah Dotson came down with his first pick of the season in the end zone. A&M would get onto the board shortly after with a field goal, to finish the first quarter with a 3-0 lead.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Greco in the video player below.
It didn't take long for Mizzou to respond, as the Tigers walked down the field, and thanks to a 32 yard touchdown pass from Simmons to Cayden Lee, the home side took its first lead of the game, and didn't look back.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Simmons in the video player below.
Greco managed to get his hands on another another pass from Marcel Reed, this time coming down with the ball for the team's second interception of the game, and giving Mizzou the ball at the A&M 34. Blake Craig would step up and add another three points to extend the lead to seven.
Both offenses stalled heading into the half, with the Aggies held to just 71 yards in the opening two quarters.
Mizzou got the ball out of the halftime break, which Craig turned into another three points. The Tigers forced a pair of three-and-outs to put the ball back into their hands, and with the third quarter clock hitting zeros, Jamal Roberts punched in the second Tiger Touchdown of the day.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Roberts in the video player below.
The fourth opened with Texas A&M kicking its second field goal of the day to cut the lead to 14. But the nail in the coffin came when Roberts took on 54 to the house to cap off a 221 yard day, as Mizzou took the 27-6 win in its final home game until November.
After the win, Coach Drinkwitz said that that game was one of the best defensive performances he can remember in his team at Mizzou. It was an effort that was, once again, led by linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, who finished the the day with a team-best 13 tackles (eight solo), as well as 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
can watch the full postgame press conference with Rodriguez in the video player below.
Up Next - The Tigers will travel to Oxford, Miss to take on No. 9 Ole Miss. Kick off against the Rebels is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.
