Nov. 1, 2014
COLUMBIA, Mo. - For the second straight game, Maty Mauk threw a pair of touchdown passes to Bud Sasser, and the Mizzou defense kept a potent Wildcat offense in check for most of the game, as Mizzou cruised to a 20-10 win over Kentucky on Saturday at Faurot Field.
The victory, coupled Florida's 38-20 win vs. Georgia, gives the defending SEC East champion Tigers (7-2, 4-1 SEC) a one-game lead in the division standings.
Kentucky (5-4, 2-4) kept things interesting at the end, however, as the Wildcats scored with 3:26 left to pull within 10, and then recovered the ensuing onsides kick. Yet the Tiger defense held firm, and on UK's last play of the game, Shane Ray sacked Patrick Towles to break Mizzou's single-season sack record. His 12 sacks break the mark set by Aldon Smith and matched by Michael Sam.
"I'm happy for him. He is such a team player," said Head Coach Gary Pinkel. "He talks to the team just like a senior captain. Players have great respect for him because he works incredibly hard and he performs at this high level all the time."
The game started moments after a tribute video was shown to the crowd of 62,004, and a moment of silence was held in honor of former player, coach, administrator and broadcast John Kadlec, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 86. His nickname, "Mr. Mizzou", was painted on the grass berms surrounding Faurot Field.
"I was at the visitation last night, and I told his family that we were going to dedicate this game to Coach. For me, that's so awesome that we won this football game. He's just a great person that touched thousands of people. Anyone who knows the guy knows how much he loved the University of Missouri. I thank God that I was able to have a 14-year relationship with him."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Mauk found Sasser on a 3-yard slant route with 12:56 left in the half. After a UK field goal, the duo hooked up again on a beautiful 26-yard lob to the right corner of the end zone.
With its final Saturday home game in the books, the Tigers leave Faurot have a bye next weekend complete their two-game homestand with a 3 p.m. CT kick next Saturday, Nov. 1, when the Tigers welcome Kentucky. Tickets remain at mutigers.com, and Mizzou welcomes SEC Nation to the Quad for their 9 a.m. show.
