No. 7 Missouri survives upset-minded Vanderbilt in overtime

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st September, 20:42 2024

Sep 21, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) is unable to make a catch against Vanderbilt Commodores safety Jalen Gilbert (18) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Blake Craig kicked the decisive 37-yard field goal as the No. 7 Missouri Tigers outlasted the Vanderbilt Commodores 30-27 in overtime Saturday in Columbia, Mo.

Brady Cook completed 23 of 37 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns to Luther Burden II for the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference), who overcame 7-0, 10-7, 13-10 and 27-20 deficits to dodge an upset.

Nate Noel rushed for 199 yards and Craig also kicked field goals of 54 and 23 yards for Missouri -- but he also missed kicks from 24, 40 and 46 yards.

Diego Pavia completed 14 of 23 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns for the Commodores (2-2, 0-1 SEC). He rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries.

Brock Taylor kicked field goals of 57 and 27 yards for Vanderbilt, but he missed from 50 yards with 3:06 to play and from 31 yards in overtime.

The Commodores struck first with Pavia's 65-yard touchdown pass to Joseph McVay on their second possession of the game.

Missouri responded with a 10-play, 76-yard drive to tie the score 7-7. Cook extended the drive with a 13-yard scramble, then capped it with a 20-yard TD pass to Burden.

Vanderbilt took the lead back on its next possession. Pavia ran 36 yards to extend the drive, which was capped by Taylor's 27-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead.

Craig hit a 23-yard kick to tie the score 10-10 with 1:17 left in the half, but Taylor answered with his 57-yard field goal as the half expired to give the Commodores a 13-10 lead.

Craig tied the score 13-13 on a 54-yard field goal with 10:58 left in the third quarter.

Noel ran for 64 yards to set up Marcus Carroll's 3-yard touchdown plunge that put the Tigers up 20-13 with 8:18 left in the third.

Vanderbilt tied the score 20-20 with an 80-yard drive capped by AJ Newberry's 4-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.

After a scoreless fourth quarter, the Commodores opened overtime with Pavia's 2-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Fisher. Cook responded with a 25-yard TD pass to Burden as Missouri tied the score 27-27.

Craig's 37-yard field goal put the Tigers up 30-27, then Taylor's miss from 31 yards ended the game.

--Field Level Media

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