The stage was set. Missouri looking to improve to 4-0, and South Carolina looking to bounce back after a disastrous loss to Vanderbilt. LaNorris Sellers was activated on Friday, giving the Gamecocks a sigh of relief. Missouri, would look to continue its success, without starting left tackle, Cayden Green, who was seen in a walking boot.

South Carolina would win the toss and elect to receive. The first play was a screen and would result in a first down. After that, however, the Tiger defense would stand strong, minimizing two pass plays to zero yards, and then on 3rd and 10, forcing an incompletion. Mizzou’s offense would take over at the 9.

Beau Pribula and company would move down the field methodically, feeding Ahmad Hardy aplenty. A few first-down carries would put the Tigers at the 50, but the drive would stall, resulting in a punt. South Carolina’s coverage was solid on the drive.

On South Carolina’s next drive, it was a flag-laced drive. Missouri would force the Gamecocks to two separate third and longs, but both resulted in defensive holding calls, which would extend the drive. On the next third and long, South Carolina had a wide-open touchdown, but couldn’t connect on the deep ball. After a terrific punt, Missouri would start at their own 1 yard line.

Missouri would march all the way down the field and get an 8-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Manning. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Robert Meyer would clank the XP off of the upright, making it 6-0.

South Carolina would respond promptly. Starting the next drive at the 34, South Carolina would move down to the 49. LaNorris Sellers would find Vandrevius Jacobs for a 49-yard score. Missouri’s coverage struggling early on with the deep ball. 7-6 South Carolina.

Missouri would march down the field, getting as far to the five-yard line. The drive would fizzle after an incompletion. Robert Meyer would nail the 22-yarder, giving Missouri the lead 9-7.

The Missouri defense would then force a three-and-out, thanks to a few South Carolina penalties. The Tigers would start at the 46. On the first play, the Tigers would shoot themselves in the foot, with Beau Pribula immediately throwing a pick.

South Carolina would get some help moving down the field with a 15-yard facemask penalty. They would keep marching with a few chunk plays, resulting in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Brian Rowe Jr. The defensive backs yet again struggling to defend the explosive plays.

Missouri would go two drives in a row, getting two field goals. 12-14 at the half.

The story of the first half? Stupid penalties and blown coverage. Mizzou allowed two touchdown passes that were outside of the red-zone, primarily due to blown coverage. Missouri’s offense drove well in the half, but once it got in the red-zone, it struggled to find it’s way in for six.

Blown coverage and allowing explosive plays has been a theme so far, one the Tigers need to do away with if it wants to have its dream season.

Missouri would start at the 13, getting a quick first down to Marquis Johnson. However, a run for no gain and a 5-yard loss would lead to a 3rd and 15. Pribula would go deep while getting lit up, but it would fall incomplete.

South Carolina would get down to the five on their next drive, after a massive long ball. But Zion Young would get a crucial sack, and a holding call would back up South Carolina to the 22. An eight-yard completion would bring on the kicking team, where South Carolina would convert. SC would grow the lead slightly, 17-12

Missouri would march down the field, in which would be dubbed the Ahmad Hardy drive. An explosive 38-yard run, numerous first-down carries, capped off by a Hardy touchdown carry from five yards out. Missouri would go for two on a direct snap to Jamal Roberts, but would fail to convert. 18-17, Tigers took the lead.

South Carolina would get the ball back and move down the field with yet another deep-ball completion. South Carolina would allow a massive sack and after a holding call on the ensuing play, they would be at the 49. However, Sellers would complete a 33-yard pass to make it 4th and 4. South Carolina initially was going for it, but a Missouri timeout changed their mind. South Carolina would bring on the kicking team, making it 20-18 heading into the fourth.

Missouri would respond big time. Ahmad Hardy continued to dominate on the ground, picking up several first downs. A 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ended in an impressive 16-yard touchdown run from Jamal Roberts. Beau Pribula would run it in for two on a fake reverse, 26-20 Tigers.

A crucial third-down stop would give the Tigers the ball back, with a chance to extend the lead. Unfortunately for Mizzou, a holding penalty would stall the drive, resulting in a three and out.

South Carolina would fail to go anywhere, and Missouri caught a massive break. On 3rd and 9, Sellers had the opportunity to complete a pass to Vandrevius Jacobs, and he was wide open… but he missed him. Missouri would get the ball back with a chance to close out the game.

Missouri would begin to bleed the clock, getting some nice runs from Jamal Roberts and benefiting from a 15-yard hands-to-the-face penalty on South Carolina. Missouri would march to the 20, going into the two-minute warning. After not being able to get a new set of downs, Missouri would kick a 39-yarder. Meyer, despite previous struggled, would drill the kick. 29-20 Tigers, with 1:34 to play.

South Carolina would get the chance to move down the field and would find themselves on 4th and 3. A false start would put them at 4th and 8, where Sellers would complete the pass, but it was short.

Tigers would run the clock out, moving to 4-0 on the season. An amazing football game.