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Game Recap: Football |
Texas's ARLINGTON Against the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2), the No. 9 Missouri Tigers (11-2) rode their defense for almost three quarters before the offense could get going. But then, Mizzou's 14-3 triumph in the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and just the fourth 11-win season in school history were fueled by two lengthy back-to-back touchdown drives.
With 4:25 left in the third quarter and down 3-0, the Tigers put together an eight-play, 95-yard drive culminating in a touchdown run by Cody Schrader that took him seven yards and two OSU defenders to the end zone. Brady Cook's 49-yard play-action throw to Marquis Johnson was the drive's key play.
The Tigers took over at their nine-yard line and marched 91 yards to score another touchdown after forcing an OSU punt. Theo Wease Jr. received a 30-yard throw to open the drive, mostly relying on Schrader runs and a crucial fourth-down run by Cook to enter the red zone. Then, with a 14-3 advantage, Cook zipped a seven-yard touchdown throw to Luther Burden III.
Daylan Carnell sacked Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz on the next play, forcing a fumble that Joe Moore III recovered, allowing the Tigers to run out of time.
For the tenth consecutive game, Schrader ran 29 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. He broke Tyler Badie's mark of 1,604 yards established two years ago with his season total of 1,627 yards, setting a Mizzou record.
Cook ran 19 times for 66 yards and completed 11 of 18 passes for 128 yards and a score to earn the title of offensive MVP for the contest.
Ohio State was limited to 203 yards by MU's defense, which recorded four quarterback sacks. With 1.5 of those, Johnny Walker, Jr. was voted the defensive MVP of the match. With 11 and 10, respectively, Jaylon Carlies and Triston Newson were the leading tacklers.
The win was the first for Missouri since 2015 and the first in Coach Eliah Drinkwitz's four years at MU. It also improved the team's all-time bowl record to 16–20. Additionally, it was the Tigers' third consecutive Cotton Bowl victory. After defeating the Buckeyes for the first time since 1976, the Tigers have a 3-2 record in their all-time bowl games versus Big 10 teams.
Fielding's 44-yard field goal in the first quarter and his 48-yard try that went off the upright in the third quarter were Ohio State's lone points.
Missouri ended with 331 yards overall despite only having 112 in the first half.
Next up
On August 31, the Tigers will meet the Murray State Racers at Faurot Field to kick off the 2024 season.
Fans may visit Mutigers.com/FBTix to secure their season tickets for 2024.
Visit www.MUTigers.com, like the team on Facebook and Instagram, and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouFootball) for up-to-date information on Mizzou Football.
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