AUBURN, Ala. – University of Missouri football had chances to win the game on both the last play of regulation and the last play of the first overtime. But Harrison Mevis missed a 26-yard field goal as time ran out in the fourth quarter, and Nathaniel Peat fumbled while going into the end zone for what would have been a game-winning touchdown as the Auburn Tigers survived to win 17-14 on Homecoming at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn's Anders Carlson provided the winning points with a 39-yard field goal in overtime, but that came after he'd missed a 44-yarder but got a second opportunity because of a Missouri offsides penalty. Just before the field goal tries, Missouri's Daylan Carnell tipped a pass that was intercepted by a diving Martez Manuel, but a replay review overturned the call ruling it an incomplete pass.
Peat, who was the game's leading rusher with 110 yards on 20 carries, started Mizzou's OT possession with a five-yard gain to the left. Then he found a big hole and dashed down the left sideline for the endzone. Inside the five, he switched the ball from his left hand to his right reaching for the goal line plane, but the ball slipped free and bounced into the endzone where it was recovered by Auburn's Derick Hall for a game-ending touchback.
Defense ruled the second half, as neither offense could find rhythm, and the teams combined for 12 punts in the final two frames. With 1:37 to play, Auburn tried to convert on a fourth-and-one situation at the Mizzou 29-yard line. Ty'Ron Hopper stopped Tank Bigsby in the backfield for no gain and Missouri took over on downs.
Quarterback Brady Cook got his offense moving and completed a 39-yard pass to Dominic Lovett that he caught at the Auburn three-yard line while falling on his back with 0:49 to play. MU moved the ball to the center of the field while running the clock down to 0:03, but Mevis pushed his FG attempt just wide right. Lovett was Missouri's leading receiver with five receptions for 102 yards.
Missouri overcame first-quarter adversity and dominated the second quarter, outgaining Auburn 137-34. Cook directed a 57-yard drive that resulted in a nine-yard touchdown run by Cody Schrader on an option pitch to the right that moved Mizzou within 14-7.
MU got a 15-yard sack by Isaiah McGuire on a third down on Auburn's next possession that forced the home team to punt. Mizzou took over at its own 21-yard line and marched 79 yards on 11 plays, getting a big pass completion of 40 yards from Cook to Lovett early on. With fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line, Cook called his own number and scored on a QB sneak.
Auburn scored twice in the first quarter, running the ball 14 straight times on its first possession leading to a 11-yard Robby Ashford touchdown run. Then, on Mizzou's next possession, a slant pass glanced off the hands of Luther Burden and into the hands of Auburn's Hall, who returned the interception to the MU 24-yard line. Five plays later, Bigsby ran three yards up the middle to put the home team up 14-0.
Auburn had a chance to kick a field goal on the last play of the half, but Carlson missed twice – first from 50 yards, and then from 45 yards after Mizzou was called offsides on the first attempt.
Missouri's defense held Auburn to 217 total yards, and just 11 yards rushing in the final three quarters plus overtime. Hopper led the defensive charge with 10 tackles, including a sack, three tackles for loss and two QB hurries. Mizzou also got sacks from Jaylon Carlies, McGuire and Manuel.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return home for their Southeastern Conference home opener against the defending national champions No. 1 Georgia. Game time on Saturday, Oct. 1, is 6:30 p.m. (SECN) at Faurot Field.
