Brady Cook, Missouri fall short in 34-30 battle with South Carolina

After an exhilarating 30-23 win over Oklahoma, the Missouri Tigers are back on the road to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks at 3:15 p.m. Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina. 

No. 23 Missouri (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) has aspirations to win out in order to keep its playoff hopes alive. After an impressive come-from-behind performance from backup quarterback Drew Pyne last week that ignited a spark within the Missouri offense, the Tigers now look to carry their newfound momentum with them. 

No. 21 South Carolina (6-3, 4-3 SEC) is coming off three dominant SEC wins over Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks hope to keep their winning streak alive against the Tigers in this years Mayor's Cup meeting. 

Mizzou has won the past five Mayor's Cup contests. 

Full game recap below:

Missouri makes it exciting late, falls short in 34-30 loss to South Carolina

After Missouri's defense was able to come up with their 3rd turnover on downs of the game, the Missouri offense approached their red zone before being stopped by the Gamecocks. Blake Craig made the 25-yard field goal, cutting the lead to just 6 points. 

Missouri's defense took the field and made another impressive stop following the field goal from Blake Craig. The 3-and-out from the Gamecocks took only 2 minutes off of the game clock. 

Led by a massive 49-yard pass from Brady Cook to Marquise Johnson, Missouri was able to capitalize from its big defensive stop. The Missouri drive took just 4-plays before being capped off by a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Nate Noel. Following a successful PAT, the Tigers lead 22-21. 

South Carolina responded to Missouri in grand fashion, marching 75-yards downfield in only 8-plays. The Gamecocks capped off their drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from LaNorris Sellers to Michael Smith. The touchdown gave South Carolina a 27-22 lead after an unsuccessful 2-point conversion attempt. 

Needing a touchdown to stay in the game, Brady Cook led the Missouri offense on an 8-play, 66-yard drive, connecting with Luther Burden on a must-convert 4th & 5 play for a 37-yard touchdown reception. Missouri was able to successfully convert the 2-point conversion, giving the Tigers a 30-27 lead with 1:02 left on the clock. 

South Carolina did not wait long to respond. The Gamecocks marched 70 yards downfield in just 55 seconds, capping off their drive with a 15-yard receiving touchdown from Rocket Sanders. After the successful PAT, South Carolina took a 34-30 lead with only 15 seconds left.

Brady Cook and the Missouri Tigers were unable to convert on the final drive of the game, falling short to South Carolina on the road 34-30. 

Missouri attempting comeback, down 21-12 going into 4th

Since Missouri elected to receive the ball to start the game, South Carolina started the second half with the football.

On their first drive of the second half, the Gamecocks marched 41 yards in 8-plays before the Missouri defense was able to get its second 4th down stop of the game. 

After the turnover on downs, Brady Cook and the Missouri offense stormed 66 yards downfield and capped off the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from running back Marcus Carroll. This was Carroll's 7th rushing touchdown of the season, cutting the lead to 21-12 after an unsuccessful 2-point conversion. 

Following the touchdown drive, South Carolina took the field looking to snap Missouri's momentum. After coming up short on a 3rd down run, LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecock offense went for it on 4th down and came up short, turning the ball over on downs for the 3rd time. 

Missouri has the football at South Carolina's 22-yard line, down 21-12 to start the 4th quarter.  

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina lead Missouri 21-6 at half

After 2 successful 4th down conversions on the drive, South Carolina elected to go for it on 4th & 1 at the Missouri 17-yard line. South Carolina running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders was stopped for a loss of a yard, turning the ball over to Missouri. 

Missouri was unable to respond on their following drive, punting the ball back to South Carolina after a quick 3-and-out. 

On the second play following the punt, LaNorris Sellers dropped backed to pass and was picked off by Missouri's Dreyden Norwood for the first turnover of the game. Missouri was unable to gain any points after the turnover after Blake Craig came up short on a 49-yard field goal attempt. 

After the missed field goal, South Carolina responded with a 6-play, 68-yard drive that was capped off by a 6-yard touchdown pass from LaNorris Sellers to Joshua Simon to take a 14-6 lead. 

The Tigers responded to the touchdown drive with their second 3-and-out of the game, punting the ball back to South Carolina with 1:27 left in the half. 

South Carolina took this momentum and ran with it, adding another touchdown on a 5-play, 77-yard touchdown. LaNorris Sellers connected with Jared Brown for a 38-yard touchdown to give South Carolina the 21-6 lead.

Missouri ended the first half with the football, but was unable to add any points on its final drive. South Carolina will receive the football to start the second half, up 15 over the Tigers.  

Cook, Missouri down 7-6 after 1st Quarter

Mizzou took the field led by veteran quarterback Brady Cook, who was considered doubtful with a wrist/ankle injury up until game time. On their first drive of the game, the Tigers marched 57 yards before stalling out. MU wideout Theo Wease Jr. nearly extended the drive with a third down catch, but it was ruled incomplete.

Kicker Blake Craig made a 38-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

South Carolina responded to Missouri quickly, marching 75 yards in just six plays and capping off its drive with a 26-yard pass from LaNorris Sellers to Nyck Harbor for a touchdown. South Carolina took a 7-3 lead after a successful PAT from kicker Alex Herrera. 

Led by Nate Noel, who had 32 yards on the drive, the Tigers responded to the Gamecocks on the following possession with a score of their own. After a 10-play, 57-yard drive, Missouri could not find the end zone again. Craig drilled a 37-yard field goal to make it 7-6. 

South Carolina started with the ball at Missouri's 45-yard line to conclude the first quarter.