Nashville, Tennessee – Missouri Tiger QB Brady Cook put up 395 passing yards and four touchdown passes to keep late Vanderbilt threats at bay for a 38-21 win. In the process of his fourth straight game of over 300 passing yards, Cook set an SEC record of 325 passing attempts without an interception. At 5-0, the Tigers stand one game short of last year’s win total. Vanderbilt started Ken Seals at QB in place of injured AJ Swann. The Commodore offense picked up new life late in the game with a long passing game to challenge, but Cook and his Tigers retaliated down the stretch.
Cook Connections
Seals six-yard run in the first gave Vanderbilt a 7-3 lead at the end of one. However, Mizzou dominated the scoring into the next two quarters. An 85-yard drive resulted in a one-yard TD on a sweep by Cody Shrader. Before the first half ended, Cook connected with Theo Wease as he kicked over the goal line pylon on a 12-yard pass play. Up 17-7 with their first possession in the third, Cook hooked up with his favorite target, Lee Burden III, along the back of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. On the following drive Vandy threatened. However, Seals’ pass got picked in the end zone by Kris Abrams-Draine.
In the fourth, Vandy stopped Mizzou on fourth down on an unexpected snap from center that hit Cook in the shoulder. The Dores took over from their 40 with new life. With play action, Seals connected on two consecutive passes to Will Sheppard of 29 and 31 yards to break their scoring drought to get within ten. With the ensuing kickoff out of bounds starting the Tigers at their 35, Mizzou scored five plays later. Cook connected with Marquis Johnson for a 44-yard catch and run to lead, 31-14.
Commodores almost come back
The Commodore offense continued to challenge despite the Tiger lead. From 50 yards out, Seals connected with Junior Sherrill on a 45-yard scoring pass to close back to within ten with 9:36 left to play. The Dores needed a stop to get back into what was becoming a fight. The defense stepped up. On a third and three from his 44, Cook got stopped for a one-yard gain by DB Marlen Sewell, and Mizzou had to punt. Starting from their 15, Vanderbilt got only to the 32 for a fourth down. Seals got sacked for 15-yard loss at his 19. Cook connected with Burden ( 11 catches for 140 yards, two TDs) once again with an 18-yard scoring strike to finalize the score, 38-21. Mizzou forced a Vandy put and ran out the clock. The Tigers moved up to No. 21 in the AP poll.
Next!
Vanderbilt heads to Gainesville next Saturday to play the Florida Gators (3-2) coming off a 33-14 loss to Kentucky. The Dore defeated both those SEC foes last year, but fell to the Kentucky wildcats already this season. Mizzou hosts LSU (3-2) after their 55-49 loss at Ole Miss.
Collegefootballfan.com continues its week night C-USA feast nights on Wednesday when Jacksonville State (4-1, 2-0) visits Middle Tennessee (1-4, 0-1). On Saturday afternoon, we’ll be back in New Jersey sandwiching a game between two wedding dates each hosted by longtime fans Les Di Vite and Fred Bacchetta. Princeton (2-1) of the Ivy will be hosting Lafayette (4-1) of the Patriot. Both the Tigers and Leopards defeated the Columbia Lions. Princeton won 10-7 and Lafayette, 24-3. Lafayette’s lone loss came at the hands of FBS No. 19 Duke, 42-7.
Wishful thinking
