No. 9 Missouri tops Florida on last-second field goal to win thriller

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th November, 23:51 2023

Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) runs the ball as Missouri Tigers linebacker Chuck Hicks (30) makes the tackle during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. credits: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Harrison Mevis kicked a 30-yard field goal with five seconds left to lift No. 9 Missouri past Florida 33-31 on Saturday.

Mevis also kicked field goals of 22, 38 and 24 yards as the Tigers (9-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) furthered their bid for a New Year's Six bowl bid.

Backup Florida quarterback Max Brown rallied the Gators from a 30-21 fourth-quarter deficit to a 31-30 lead. Trey Smack kicked a go-ahead 35-yard field goal with 1:36 left.

But Missouri moved 62 yards to set up Mevis' winning kick, with Brady Cook completing a 27-yard pass to Luther Burden III on fourth-and-17 to extend the drive.

Cook passed for 331 yards and one touchdown and ran for another. Cody Schrader rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown, and Luther Burden III caught nine passes for 158 yards.

Trevor Etienne gained 119 total yards and scored two touchdowns for Florida (5-6, 3-5). Graham Mertz completed 14 of 21 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns before suffering an apparent collarbone injury in the third quarter.

The Tigers opened the game by driving 70 yards for a 3-0 lead on Mevis' 22-yard field goal.

The Gators answered with an 80-yard drive to move ahead 7-3. Mertz threw a 61-yard pass to Ricky Pearsall and an 8-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Wilson III.

Missouri built a 13-7 halftime lead on Schrader's 42-yard touchdown burst and Mevis' 38-yard field goal.

Florida started the second half by moving 75 yards on just four plays to regain the lead 14-13. Etienne's touchdown catch finished the drive.

The Tigers responded with a 75-yard TD drive, capped by Cook's 1-yard run, to surge ahead 20-14.

The Gators raced 82 yards on just three plays for a 21-20 lead. Pearsall ran 39 yards for a touchdown.

Mevis answered with a 24-yard field goal as Missouri edged ahead 23-21. After Brown lost a fumble on the Missouri 19, Cook completed a 77-yard TD pass to Theo Wease Jr. to make it 30-21.

The Gators converted fourth-and-4 from its own 31-yard line during a 75-yard touchdown drive to move within 30-28. Florida marched 45 yards for Smack's goal-ahead field goal, but Missouri answered with its winning drive.

—Field Level Media