COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Missouri’s defense bent but didn’t break during Vanderbilt’s final drive, and the Tigers defeated the Commodores 33-28 to clinch bowl eligibility on Saturday.
Missouri kicker Tucker McCann had a chance to ice the game with 1:48 remaining, but the junior missed a 31-yard field goal to give Vanderbilt a last chance. The Commodores drove down to Missouri’s 25-yard line, but couldn’t convert a last-second heave to win the game.
In the end, the Tigers (6-4, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) are going bowling, and the Commodores (4-6, 1-5) will need to win both its remaining games to guarantee bowl eligibility.
Vanderbilt had led all game until Missouri runningbacks Damarea Crockett and Larry Rountree III fueled a 99-yard drive to start the fourth quarter. The drive started after Vanderbilt failed to convert a 4th-and-goal opportunity on Missouri’s 1-yard line.
From there, the Tigers trekked down the field for a 14-play drive that lasted 5:38. Quarterback Drew Lock trotted three yards into the endzone to give Missouri its first lead of the game – 33-28 with 9:18 remaining.
Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur outplayed Lock for the majority of the game. Shurmur tossed for 249 yards and three touchdowns on 24-for-35 passing. Lock, a former Heisman hopeful, passed for 253 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 22-for-33 passing.
Crockett bolted for 122 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and Rountree added 92 yards on 21 rushes.
Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn ran for 182 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries, good for 12.1 yards per carry.
THE TAKEAWAY
Vanderbilt: The Commodores showed promise on offense in the first half and proved that they could compete on the road. The victory would have immensely helped the team’s bowl chances, but Vanderbilt can still clinch eligibility with wins in home games against Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Missouri: It wasn’t as pretty as the Tigers’ 38-17 victory over No. 13 Florida, but Missouri is officially going bowling. After a rough first half, the defense locked down and offense stepped up in the second half. Finally winning a close game should help the Tigers’ spirits.
