At Sanford Stadium, the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (9-0, 6-0) overcame a deficit to defeat the No. 12 Missouri Tigers (7-2, 3-2) 30-21 thanks to two third-quarter touchdowns and two fourth-quarter field goals.
Georgia had won 26 games in a row, 24 of those games at home, and 10 of those games against Mizzou.
At halftime, the score was tied 10-10. However, Missouri took the lead in the third quarter after Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer and giving the Tigers a 13-10 lead. His career point total increased to 364, two more than the previous record of 362 held by Jeff Wolfert.
Brady Cook connected with Theo Wease Jr. for 31 yards and Mookie Cooper for 21 yards on the Tigers’ opening two plays of the half. The drive spanned 59 yards.
After a five-yard pass to Oscar Delp with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter, Kendall Milton’s 15-yard touchdown run to the right gave Georgia the lead back, 17-13.
With nine plays and 75 yards of marching, the Tigers answered emphatically. On a third-and-10, Cook connected with Cooper for an 11-yard pass before finding Mekhi Miller for a 23-yard completion down to the Georgia 12.
The game’s top rusher, Cody Schrader, then sprinted around left end for a touchdown, and Cook connected with Luther Burden III on a two-point conversion pass to trim the lead to 24-21. For Schrader, it was his sixth straight game with a touchdown.
After a pass interference call put the Bulldogs in the red zone and a 23-yard pass from Beck to Delp moved Georgia into Missouri territory, the Tiger defense stiffened, and with 8:59 remaining, Peyton Woodring converted a 30-yard field goal to make the score 27-21.
DT Nazir Stackhouse intercepted Cook’s short pass meant for Brett Norfleet as MU was moving toward midfield. With 3:57 remaining, Woodring made a 48-yard field goal to extend the lead to 30-21 after the Tiger defense had stopped Georgia once more.
With 1:36 left in the game, Javon Bullard intercepted a deep pass intended for Wease Jr., who led the MU receivers with five catches for 90 yards, giving Missouri one last chance to win, but the Bulldogs ran out of time.
Cook ran for 39 yards and completed 14 of 30 passes for 212 yards. Cook used his legs to hurt Georgia in the first half, rushing for 57 yards as opposed to the team’s 50 yards. However, the Bulldogs made adjustments in the second half to neutralize Cook’s running threat.
A 33-yard field goal by Woodring gave Georgia a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but a 39-yard Cook to Burden touchdown pass gave Missouri a 7-3 advantage. Cook ran twice for 17 yards and was 4-for-4 for 53 yards on the 75-yard drive. It was Burden’s seventh touchdown catch of the year.
Georgia’s Dominic Lovett recovered from a wide receiver screen to the left for a six-yard touchdown on the third play of the second quarter, giving the ‘Dogs a 10-7 lead once again. During the 70-yard drive, Georgia converted three third downs.
Mevis’ 38-yard field goal to tie the score came after a punt play exchange.
Georgia defeated Missouri 385 to 363 in a contest that both defenses dominated. Missouri had three quarterback sacks, compared to Georgia’s five prior to the game. Ty’Ron Hopper had 10 tackles, including 7 solos and 1 sack, to lead MU’s defensive line. Nyles Gaddy and Darius Robinson had the other two sacks for the Tigers.
