
Mizzou Football Set for Halloween Showdown at No. 10/9 Florida Saturday
10/27/2020 11:14:00 AM | Football
Mizzou and Florida to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday
MIZZOU FOOTBALL TRAVELS TO FLORIDA ON SATURDAY | |||||
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OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH | STATS |
at Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | Saturday, Oct. 31 | 6:30 PM | SEC Network Alt | Stats |
#NewZou Game Notes
Tigers Look for Third Straight Win in Halloween Showdown at No. 10/9 Florida
- Mizzou Football (2-2, 2-2 SEC) heads to No. 10/9 Florida this Saturday for a Halloween contest in the Swamp which will kick at 6:30 p.m. (CT) on SEC Network (alternate). The game was originally scheduled to be played Oct. 24 before a COVID-19 outbreak within the Gators' program forced the game to be postponed until this Saturday.
- Mizzou is of course the winner of its last two games, downing defending national champion LSU, 45-41, on Oct. 10 before dominating Kentucky in a 20-10 decision last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The win over Kentucky snapped a five-game losing skid to the Wildcats, which dated five years, 11 months and 23 days.
- Florida last played Oct. 10, a 41-38 loss at No. 21 Texas A&M. The Gators have wins over Ole Miss (51-35) and South Carolina (38-24) this season.
Tigers Coming off of Dominant Win Over Kentucky
- It's not very often that a head coach has something like this to say following a win: "Both sides of the ball - they played the game exactly like we wanted it to be played in order to win, and that doesn't happen very often." But that's what first-year Mizzou head coach Eliah Drinkwitz had to say following Mizzou's 20-10 win over Kentucky last time out. The Tigers grinded out 92 offensive plays with 62 rushes while limiting Kentucky to just 145 yards on 36 total offensive plays in a lopsided game that was never quite as close as the score indicated. Below are some eye-catching stats from a win that snapped Mizzou's five-game skid against the Wildcats:
- The 145 total offensive yards allowed by Mizzou's defense were the fewest ever allowed in an SEC game by Mizzou. In fact, it was Mizzou's best in a conference game since Nov. 26, 2011, when Kanas mustered just 137 total yards.
- Kentucky ran just 36 offensive plays on Saturday while Mizzou ran 92. That led to a wide time of possession disparity as Mizzou clocked in at 43:10 while Kentucky had the ball for just 16:50. The 43:10 TOP was the program's best mark since joining the SEC. The key was a 21-play drive to open the third quarter that spanned 9:35. Although Mizzou came away with no points on that drive, Kentucky was never able to get on track in the second half thanks to Mizzou's offense holding the ball for as long as it did, while controlling both lines of scrimmage.
- A key to Mizzou holding the ball was its ability to convert third- and fourth-down situations. Mizzou was a combined 14-for-25 (56 percent) on third and fourth downs last Saturday while Kentucky was just 2-for-9. Kentucky had just eight first downs in the game – two coming via penalty, fewest in a league game by an opponent since Colorado mustered seven in 2007.
- Over the last two games, Mizzou's defense has limited its opponents to a combine 2-for-19 (10.5 percent) mark on third down. LSU was 0-for-10 while Kentucky as aforementioned was just 2-for-9. Mizzou in that span conversely is 19-for-35 (54 percent). This is a drastic improvement from the first two games of the season, as Mizzou's opponents converted 55.6 percent of their third down chances.
- Mizzou RB Larry Rountree III had a career-high 37 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns. He ran the ball more times than Kentucky ran offensive plays (36). Mizzou's 62 rushing attempts were its second-most ever in an SEC game and most since rushing 67 times at Tennessee in 2016.
- The 36 plays allowed by Mizzou's defense are the fewest since allowing Bowling Green to run just 35 plays in 1998. In a league game, you have to go all the way back to 1966 to find a similar performance when Kansas State ran just 36 plays for 172 yards in a 27-0 Mizzou win. Mizzou's 92 plays were its most in a league game since Nov. 24, 2017, when it had 102 snaps in a 48-45 win at Arkansas.
- Mizzou allowed just 47 passing yards against Kentucky, the fewest ever allowed by a Mizzou team in an SEC game, and fewest since Kansas had 45 yards in 2010.
Series vs. Florida
- Mizzou and Florida have played nine times over the years with the Tigers holding a 5-4 edge in the all-time series. Before a 23-6 loss a year ago, Mizzou had won the two previous meetings with the Gators, including a 45-16 win in Columbia in 2017 and a 38-17 road victory during the 2018 season when the Gators were ranked No. 13 nationally.
- As part of the SEC, Mizzou has won four of eight meetings with the Gators. The only other game between the two SEC East foes was in the 1966 Sugar Bowl, a 20-18 Mizzou win in New Orleans. Mizzou finished that 1965 season with an 8-2 record and a final ranking of No. 6 nationally under head coach Dan Devine.
- Mizzou is 2-2 all-time in games played in Gainesville.
BOLTON, COOK EARN SEC WEEKLY HONORS
- Mizzou junior LB Nick Bolton (Defensive) and OL Case Cook (Offensive Lineman) earned SEC weekly awards following the team's win over Kentucky. Bolton led one of Mizzou's most impressive defensive performances in recent memory, posting seven tackles (all solo), 1.0 sack and a QB hurry as the Tigers limited Kentucky to just 145 total yards, its best ever in an SEC game. Cook helped Mizzou hold the ball for a whopping 43:10, the Tigers' highest single-game TOP since joining the SEC, while running 92 plays with 62 coming on the ground.
Tigers Winning Games in Different Ways
- In looking at Mizzou's last two games – both victories – against defending national champion LSU and then last Saturday against Kentucky, it is clear that Mizzou is willing to play whatever type of game is necessary to win.
- Against LSU, Mizzou won a shootout with the visiting Tigers, 45-41, piling up 586 total yards of offense, including 406 passing, exploiting an LSU secondary for four scores through the air.
- Then, in Mizzou's next game vs. Kentucky, the Tigers played smashmouth football and dominated both lines of scrimmage to earn a dominant 20-10 win. It was a methodical beatdown that was never as close as the final score indicated.
- It is clear that Coach Drinkwitz is comfortable building game plans around the style of game that he believes it will be. The LSU win was a shootout that the Tigers looked comfortable playing in, making plays all over the field. Kentucky, conversely was an old-school approach winning in a style that the Wildcats were used to winning in. Key proof of that has been the quarterback play in each of the two Mizzou wins.
- Against LSU, freshman QB Connor Bazelak was 29-for-35 for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 11.6 yards per attempt and 14 yards per completion. Six of the eight pass-catchers against LSU had a long grab of 20+ yards, including three of 40+ yards, as Bazelak was asked to stretch the field and exploit the LSU secondary.
- Against Kentucky, Bazelak was asked to be much more of a game manager, as he completed 21-of-30 passes for 201 yards. That's 6.7 yards per attempt and 9.5 per completion. That's a stark contrast from the game he played against LSU, but Mizzou was content to possess the ball and trust its defense to limit Kentucky.
Bazelak on Third/Fourth Down vs. Kentucky
- We talked above about Mizzou being able to play to the type of game that the contest is going to be. We also hinted at Mizzou redshirt freshman QB Connor Bazelak being proof of that over the last two games. No stats are more evident of his ability to manage a game than what he did on third and fourth down against Kentucky last Saturday. Below is a snapshot:
- Drive 1, third and 4: Rush for six yards and a first down
- Drive 1, third and 14: Pass complete to graduate WR Damon Hazelton for 3 yards
- Drive 2, third and 7: Pass complete to senior RB Larry Rountree III for 3 yards
- Drive 3, fourth and 5: Pass complete to Hazelton for 12 yards and a first down
- Drive 3, third and 6: Pass complete to junior RB Tyler Badie for 10 yards and a first down
- Drive 4, third and 3: Pass complete to sophomore WR Boo Smith for 10 yards and a first down
- Drive 4, third and 4: Pass intended for junior WR Jalen Knox, incomplete
- Drive 4, third and 8: Pass complete to graduate WR Keke Chism for 24 yards and a first down
- Drive 5, third and 7: Pass complete to Knox for 13 yards and a first down
- Drive 5, third and 10: Pass complete to Knox for 10 yards and a first down
- Drive 5, third and 11: Pass complete to Hazelton for 7 yards
- Drive 5, fourth and 4: Pass complete to Knox for four yards and first down
- Drive 5, fourth and 1: Sacked for loss of two yards
- Drive 7, third and 4: Rush for three yards
- Drive 8, third and 7: Rush for eight yards and a first down
- Drive 8, third and 1: Rush for four yards and a first down
- On 16 third- and fourth-down attempts when Bazelak was called upon to make the play, Mizzou converted 10 of those 16 chances (63 percent).
- Bazelak was 10-for-11 for 96 yards and seven first downs on those 11 attempts.
- He also rushed for 21 yards on four carries and three first downs.
Rountree is a Work Horse
- There were certainly plenty of eye-catching stats from Mizzou's win over Kentucky last Saturday, but the real story was the smashmouth rushing attack keyed by senior RB Larry Rountree III. Mizzou rushed the ball 62 times, and Rountree toted the ball on a career-high 37 of those attempts, going for 126 yards and two scores. When asked after the game if he was sore, he replied with: "I could play tomorrow."
- In the fourth quarter, as Mizzou was attempting to put the game away, he seemed to get stronger. Clinging to a one-score lead at 17-10, the Tigers took the ball back with 10:11 remaining in the game. On the ensuing drive, Rountree carried the ball six times for 23 yards, helping Mizzou orchestrate a 15-play, 61-yard drive that spanned 7:04 while ending in a freshman K Harrison Mevis field goal, extending the lead to 20-10 with 3:07 remaining, icing the game.
- On the game's final drive, he added seven more yards on two carries and had 30 yards on eight carries over the final two drives as Mizzou milked the clock.
- Arguably one of the game's most exciting plays came on the penultimate drive that put the game away as Rountree carried the ball for four yards down to the UK 19-yard line, running over defender Kelvin Jospeh at the end of the run, resulting in a thunderous celebration from the Mizzou bench. No one was stopping Rountree last Saturday.
Bledsoe Emerging as Elite Playmaker
- Mizzou may have the best trio of safeties in the SEC (more on that later), and one of the keys to that trio is senior S Joshuah Bledsoe. In each of Mizzou's last two games (both wins), Bledsoe has made the game-winning defensive play. Big-time players make big-time plays, and Bledsoe has personified that moniker recently.
- Against LSU, it was his fourth-down pass breakup as LSU QB Myles Brennan was looking for Terrace Mashall, Jr., in the end zone on an out-route from the 1-yard line. Bledsoe – nicknamed Jiggy by his teammates – jumped the route and knocked the ball down to seal the win.
- Against Kentucky last week, with Mizzou up 10 late, Kentucky completed a pass on first down and Bledsoe made the tackle. In the process, he ripped the ball from WR Josh Ali for a fumble. That gave the ball back to Mizzou and the Tigers milked the clock from there.
Bazelak is 3-0 as a Starter, Putting Up Elite Numbers
- After quarterbacking Mizzou to its second win this season in his third career start (second this season), redshirt freshman QB Connor Bazelak is now 3-0 as a starter in his career. In addition to the LSU and Kentucky wins, he also started last year's finale at Arkansas, which Mizzou won 24-14 despite Bazelak leaving that game with a torn ACL in the first half.
- In his three starts, Bazelak's stat line is as follows:
- 3-0
- 57-of-73 (78.0%)
- 687 yards
- Four TDs
- 0 INTs
TOUCHBACK MASTER
- Mizzou redshirt junior K Sean Koetting has mastered the art of the touchback since taking over kickoff duties last season.
- In his career, Koetting has posted 20 touchbacks in 21 attempts, including 19 of 20 through four games this season.
- He is second nationally in touchback percentage, and leads the nation among players who have played more than one game.
Rountree Ranks Among Program's All-Time Greats
- Mizzou senior RB Larry Rountree III passed Tiger legend Brock Olivo to move into third place on Mizzou's all-time rushing list as he now has 3,144 yards on 624 career carries (5.03 average). He needs 55 yards this Saturday to become the school's all-time leading rusher by a tailback, passing Tiger great Zack Abron in the process.
- He has an outside shot at catching transcendent QB Brad Smith who is the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,289 yards. Rountree is 1,154 yards back of that mark. Below is a look:
Rank | Player (Years) | Yards | Total Carries |
1. | Brad Smith, QB (2002-05) | 4,289 | 799 |
2. | Zack Abron, RB (2000-03) | 3,198 | 692 |
3. | Larry Rountree III, RB (2017-20) | 3,144 | 686 |
4. | Brock Olivo, RB (1994-97) | 3,026 | 686 |
- The Kentucky game marked Rountree's 11th career 100-yard rushing game and second of the season. He is one of six Tigers to record 10+ games of 100 or more rushing yards, joining Brad Smith (18), Zack Abron (11), Henry Josey (11), Joe Moore (11) and Devin West (11). Mizzou is 10-1 when Rountree rushes for 100 yards in his career.
- Rountree tallied his 28th and 29th career rushing touchdowns vs. Kentucky last Saturday. That moved him into fifth place all-time at Mizzou, passing Devin West (28 from 1995-98). Below is a look at where Rountree ranks on Mizzou's all-time rushing TD list (running backs unless otherwise denoted):
Rank | Player (Years) | Rushing TDs |
1. | Brad Smith, QB (2002-05) | 45 |
2. | Zack Abron, RB (2000-03) | 40 |
3. | Corby Jones, QB (1995-98) | 38 |
4. | Henry Josey, RB (2010-13) | 30 |
5. | Larry Rountree III (2017-20) | 29 |
T6. | Devin West, RB (1995-98) | 28 |
T6. | Derrick Washington, RB (2007-09) | 28 |
- Rountree is averaging 0.69 touchdowns per game in his career. Should he average that mark for the final six games this season, he would finish with 33 career rushing TDs, which would be fourth-most in Mizzou history and second-most among Mizzou running backs.
- Additionally, Rountree now has 16 runs of 25+ yards in his career, tied for the third-most in school history. He also has 21 rushes of 20+ yards, fifth-most in Mizzou history. Below is a look:
Rank | Player (Years) | Rushes of 25+ |
1. | Brad Smith, QB (2002-05) | 35 |
2. | Henry Josey, RB (2010-13) | 20 |
T3. | Larry Rountree III, RB (2017-20) | 16 |
T3. | Tony Temple, RB (2004-07) | 16 |
Rank | Player (Years) | Rushes of 20+ |
1. | Brad Smith, QB (2002-05) | 50 |
2. | Tony Temple, RB (2004-07) | 30 |
3. | Henry Josey, RB (2010-13) | 27 |
4. | Corby Jones, QB (1995-98) | 24 |
5. | Larry Rountree III, RB (2017-20) | 21 |
A Historic Performance for Bazelak
- It's important to note that Mizzou's win over LSU two weeks ago featured a redshirt freshman quarterback making his second career start and first of the season guiding Mizzou's dominant offense. Connor Bazelak, who had shined in backup duty in Mizzou's first two games, got the start for Coach Drinkwitz and shined against the defending national champions.
- In his second career start, Bazelak engineered an unbelievable day for the Mizzou offense. At 85.3 percent (29-of-34), Bazelak posted Mizzou's best-ever completion percentage against a ranked opponent or FBS opponent, a mark that is also a Mizzou freshman record. The only performance better than Bazelak's was Chase Daniel's 94.1 completion percentage against Southeast Missouri during his senior season in 2008.
- Bazelak's passer rating of 242.4 was the sixth-best mark in program history, with the other five coming against SEMO, Iowa State, Missouri State, Nevada and Idaho, as it was the best-ever rating against a ranked team for a Mizzou QB. The previous best rating by a Mizzou QB in an SEC game was Drew Lock's 210.3 at Florida in 2018.
- The redshirt freshman passed for 406 yards and four touchdowns – the first Mizzou freshman to pass for four touchdowns in a game since Maty Mauk against Kentucky in 2013 – and the 14th-most passing yards by a Mizzou QB ever.
- Only six Mizzou QBs have ever thrown for more yards than Bazelak did against LSU – keep in mind it was his second career start.
- He led the offense to 586 total yards, including 406 through the air, and at one point completed 15 consecutive passes, the longest such streak since Chase Daniel had 20 straight against Buffalo in 2008 - Bazelak's streak ended on a ball he had to throw away after being flushed from the pocket.
- Bazelak is the only SEC QB since the turn of the century to have 400 yards, 4 TDs, 85% completion pct. and 0 INTs in a game. Only two other QBs have accomplished a similar stat line against a Power-5 opponent over the same time frame - Geno Smith and Philip Rivers.
- Keep in mind, he did all of this with Mizzou's top two WRs and three of the group's top five out of the lineup due to COVID-related issues.
- Bazelak won the following awards following Mizzou's win over LSU:
- SEC Freshman of the Week
- Davey O'Brien National QB of the Week
- Orange Bowl Player of the Week
- Manning Award Star of the Week
- Davey O'Brien Award Great Eight List
TIGERS HAVE A BUDDING YOUNG STAR AT KICKER
- We would be remiss if we didn't mention true freshman kicker Harrison Mevis as the Tigers get ready to take on Florida this weekend. A native of Warsaw, Ind., Mevis was the No. 2-ranked kicker nationally coming out of Warsaw Community High School by Kohl's Kicking. He has lived up to those expectations early in his young career, connecting on seven of his eight field goal attempts this season, with his only miss coming from 56 yards.
- He is the first Mizzou kicker ever to connect on his first five field goals as a collegiate kicker, and he did so in incredible fashion, hitting a pair from 50+ yards. His 52-yard field goal vs. LSU marks the longest by a Mizzou freshman in program history.
- He is also the first Mizzou freshman to make a 50+ yard FG since Jeff Jacke in 1988.
BOLTON TACKLING AT HISTORIC PACE
- Entering week six of the season, Mizzou junior All-SEC LB Nick Bolton once again finds himself ranked among the nation's elite in tackles. After posting seven more tackles (all solo) with a sack and a QB hurry against Kentucky, Bolton sits 21st nationally with his 10.75 tackles/game. While the seven tackles may not seem like many by Bolton's lofty standards, it's important to note that he tallied those seven solo tackles among just 28 team tackles against Kentucky as the Wildcats ran just 36 offensive plays.
- Since Oct. 12, 2019, after Mizzou senior captain LB Cale Garrett went down with a season-ending injury, Bolton has tallied 114 tackles over the last 11 games (10.4 per-game average).
- The last Tiger to average better than 10.4 tackles per game over a nine-game span was LB Kentrell Brothers during his All-American 2015 season when he led the nation with 152 tackles. Brothers averaged 13.0 tackles per game in the first nine games of the 2015 season.
- Bolton's 17 tackles at Tennessee are tied for the second-most at Mizzou since the turn of the century and are the most since a 20-takcle performance by LB Sean Weatherspoon against Buffalo on Sept. 20, 2008.
TIGERS MAY HAVE THE SEC'S BEST TRIO OF SAFETIES
- One of the strongest position groups for the Tigers on this year's defense is the safety position. Mizzou's two elder statesmen on the back end of the defense – FS Joshuah Bledsoe and boundary safety Tyree Gillespie – are long-known as being one of the nation's elite safety tandems. But, after week the first four games, we also need to insert SS Martez Manuel into the conversation.
- Manuel – whose SS spot is a hybrid linebacker/safety position as part of Mizzou's five-DB scheme – is currently third on the team with 24 tackles and leads the team with his 3.5 tackles for loss.
- The trio was disruptive all over the field vs. No. 2 Alabama, combining for 18 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two PBUs.
- They again shined against LSU, posting a combined 16 tackles and two pass break-ups, one of which was Bledsoe's to end the game.
- Through four games, they rank third (Manuel with 24), fourth (Gillespie with 20) and fifth (Bledsoe with 18) on the team in total tackles. They have combined for 62 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and six pass breakups through the season's first four games. Bledsoe's forced fumble and fumble recovery against Kentucky gives the group one of each of those as well.
- Coached by defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, a rising young star in the coaching profession who landed at No. 8 on The Athletic's Assistant Coaches to Watch list over the summer, Mizzou's safeties are a proven commodity in the SEC.
- Gillespie was tabbed a 2020 second-team All-SEC pick during the preseason by the league's coaches after posting 50 tackles over 12 games last year, including 4.0 tackles for loss, one sack and seven pass break-ups.
- Bledsoe, who made the jersey change from #18 to #1 this season, finished 2019 ranked third on the team with 49 tackles (35 solo) with 4.0 tackles for loss. He added a team-high 10 pass break-ups with a fumble recovery and also forced fumble. His 49 tackles were a new single-season career-high and he became the first Mizzou safety in more than a decade to post 10+ pass break-ups in a single season and just the eighth Mizzou defender to do so since 2009.
A QUICK LOOK AT MIZZOU'S FIRST-YEAR BENCH BOSS
- A winner at every stage of his coaching career, Eliah Drinkwitz – considered one of college football's top offensive minds – was named the 33rd head football coach at the University of Missouri in December 2019. Drinkwitz took over at Mizzou following an impressive 2019 season at Appalachian State, where he led the 20th-ranked Mountaineers to a 12-1 record and a Sun Belt Conference championship (Drinkwitz did not coach the bowl game, the team's 13th win, as he had already accepted the Mizzou job).
- Drinkwitz's offensive acumen has been a key element in his teams winning five conference championships while compiling a perfect 8-0 bowl game record in 10 seasons at the FBS level. The combined record of his teams from 2010-19 is 100-36 overall (73.5%), including a 59-24 conference mark (71.1%). Drinkwitz also serves as the program's offensive coordinator.
- The 2019 season saw Drinkwitz turn in one of the most impressive FBS head coaching debut seasons ever. His Mountaineers set a Sun Belt record with their 13 wins, and also set the mark for the best regular season in conference history (11-1). They claimed the Sun Belt championship with a 45-38 win against Louisiana on Dec. 7.
- Prior to App State, Drinkwitz spent three years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for record-setting North Carolina State teams (2016-18), after excelling in a similar role at Boise State for two years (2014-15), where the Broncos won the 2014 Mountain West title and finished 12-2 and ranked 16th nationally. In 2015, Drinkwitz was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and he helped the Bronco offense rank in the Top 15 nationally in points (39.1) and yards (501.3) per game.
- In his five seasons as an offensive coordinator, Drinkwitz has produced five 1,000-yard rushers, four 3,000-yard passers and four 1,000-yard receivers. Three of those years (2015, 2017, 2018) his offenses produced at least one in each category.
- Drinkwitz's Coaching Awardsz:
- 2019 Eddie Robinson Award Finalist
- 2019 North Carolina Coach of the Year (North State Journal)
- 2018 Broyles Award Nominee
Coach Drink Gets First Win, Does So in Notable Fashion
- Of course, the win over LSU on Oct. 10 marked the first for Eliah Drinkwitz as Mizzou head coach. He became the first Mizzou coach to defeat a ranked opponent for his first career Mizzou win since Warren Powers defeated No. 5 Notre Dame, 3-0, on Sept, 9, 1978 in South Bend, Ind.
BADIE A STAR IN THE PASSING GAME, TOO
- Dating back to last season, junior RB Tyler Badie has emerged as a threat in the passing game. In fact, he has caught five of Mizzou's last eight TD receptions, and six of the last 10. Here is a look:
- vs. LSU - Bazelak to Niko Hea for 5
- vs. LSU - Bazelak to Badie for 21
- vs. LSU - Bazelak to Micah Wilson for 41
- vs. Alabama - S. Robinson to Badie for 54
- at Arkansas - T. Powell to Jonathan Nance for 10
- vs. Tennessee (2019) - M. Wilson to Badie for 15
- vs. Tennessee (2019) - K. Bryant to Badie for 7
- at Kentucky (2019) - K. Bryant to Badie for 74
- On his last five scores, Badie has taken it to the house from all parts of the field, averaging 34.2 yards per score as he continued to be dynamic with the ball in his hands.
Players Mentioned
Mizzou Live Pregame Show Presented by Paytient
Saturday, September 27
MU Health Care Kid Captain - Hazel Hopkins
Thursday, September 25
MU Health Care Kid Captain - Courtland Sisler
Thursday, September 25
MU Health Care Kid Captain - Noah Gilion
Thursday, September 25