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Columbia Daily Tribune
Here's how we graded Missouri football in comeback win over Auburn
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Here's how we graded Missouri football in comeback win over Auburn
If you ordered some homecoming anarchy, your wish was granted.
There were fumbles and unforced errors and backup quarterbacks and all, and in the end one of the more memorable comebacks in recent team history. Missouri football pulled out a belief-defying comeback to defeat Auburn 21-17 on Saturday in Columbia.
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Here's how we graded Missouri football in a remarkable day at Memorial Stadium.
Offense: A
Two different offenses wore black and gold Saturday.
Brady Cook left the game in the first drive in the first quarter. It was an uphill battle for backup Drew Pyne , who went 10-for-21 for 78 yards.
Cook matched that production on one play in his first drive back in the third quarter with a 78-yard pass to Mookie Cooper . He hustled for a 2-point conversion after Marcus Carroll punched in MU's first touchdown. On a late drive starting at MU's own 5, Cook scrambled twice for game-saving first downs.
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With Cook, the Tigers had life, including a 95-yard, last-gasp touchdown drive to win the game. Jamal Roberts punched in the game-winner.
Without Cook … Disaster.
Take a bow, Brady Cook.
Defense: A-
When Cook reentered the game, the MU defense did all it could to help the team to the finish line. That deserves a ton of credit. Stop after stop after stop to keep MU alive.
The Tigers completely shut Payton Thorne and co. out to win late on.
The Tigers were up to the task barring one major exception.
MU safety Marvin Burks Jr. and Dreyden Norwood were caught in no-man's land as Payton Thorne hit freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman early in the third quarter for a go-ahead touchdown.
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Special teams: F
Luther Burden III muffed a punt that Auburn recovered for a touchdown.
Blake Craig missed field goals from 49 and 55 yards in the first, which are by no means gimmes but, in a game with two struggling offenses, were the Tigers' best chances to score with Pyne in the game.
Coaches: C
You can't account for injuries.
You can account for mistakes made again and again and again. Coverage busts, again, reared on the Mizzou defense. This time, they hurt. Special teams again looked like a poorly coached unit.
The comeback falls squarely on Brady Cook and the players' shoulders. But some credit should go to the coaches for keeping MU in it.
Oct 19, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) is tackled by Auburn Tigers nose tackle Jalen McLeod (35) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here's how we graded Missouri football in comeback win over Auburn
