No. 7 Mizzou overcomes mistakes again and escapes with a 30-27 double OT win over Vandy

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The seventh-ranked Missouri team's last two wins can be looked at in two very different ways: a pair of comebacks against Boston College and a 30-27 double-overtime victory over Vanderbilt in its SEC opener Saturday night.

The Tigers were good enough to overcome their mistakes. Or their opponents weren't good enough to capitalize on them.

Either way, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz has a lot of work to do before he resumes tough conference practice against No. 25 Texas A&M in two weeks and also faces fourth-ranked Alabama and No. 15 Oklahoma later this season.

Opponents with much more talent are much more likely to beat a team that constantly commits penalties and mental errors.

“We need to look closely at the Missouri Tigers and find out why we're not successful on third downs, in the red area. Why we're missing tackles and missing assignments,” Drinkwitz said. “I'm not even worried about Texas A&M. I'm worried that our team is coming off a win, 4-0 – which is the best we can be, record-wise, but we're not as good as we can be. We need to adapt to that and see what we can do to improve.”

The Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) escaped against Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1) when Blake Craig made up for three missed field goals by hitting from 37 yards in the second overtime and Commodores opponent Brock Taylor missed a 31-yard throw to keep the game going.

“What we want is in front of us. That's the message,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said afterward. “We're all hurt. We're all in pain right now. But we'll get through that in the next three or four hours.”

The Tigers also have a job to do, despite the mistakes that nearly ruined their win against a Vanderbilt team that hadn't beaten an opponent as highly ranked as the Tigers since Oct. 20, 2007, when it defeated No. 6 South Carolina.

On the Commodores' second possession, Missouri broke through the middle of the field and Diego Pavia found Joseph McVay for a 65-yard touchdown pass that took the energy out of Faurot Field.

Later in the half, returner Theo Wease Jr. failed to catch a short kickoff that bounced past him and almost to the goal line. Wease eventually picked it up, ran sideways and was lucky to avoid a safety as he was tackled at the Missouri 2.

However, the Tigers’ biggest slip-up came at the end of the first half.

Missouri had just gotten a 10-10 tie when it forced Vanderbilt into a three-and-out. The Tigers quickly got a first down but were limited to fourth-and-3 near the halfway line with 12 seconds left. Instead of punting, Cook lined up and quickly grabbed the ball, and it was sacked with 8 seconds left. The turnover gave Vanderbilt enough time to complete a short pass, leading to a 57-yard field goal by Brock Taylor that gave Lea's team the halftime lead.

“It was all my fault. It was a really haphazard decision on my part,” Drinkwitz said, “and the team saved me. Bottom line.”

All of those missteps came just a week after a series of mistakes nearly cost the Tigers a 27-21 victory over Boston College. There was the play when the Eagles dropped the snap and then threw a 67-yard touchdown pass, and the eight penalties for 78 yards against Missouri, including two personal fouls and two unsportsmanlike conduct flags.

Craig made four of four field goals in the game, including a 52-yard basket that earned him SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

But the first-year kicker struggled against Vanderbilt. His first 25-yard throw hit the post, and he missed attempts from 40 and 46 yards in the fourth quarter, either of which would have given Missouri a 23-20 lead.

Vanderbilt began overtime with a touchdown pass from Pavia to Gabe Fisher, but Brady Cook answered for the Tigers on the next play, throwing a perfect 25-yard throw to Luther Burden II, who was running free down the sideline.

The Tigers took a three-point lead in the second overtime when Craig hit his 37-yard throw for the lead. And when their defense kept the Commodores under control, thanks in part to an offensive pass interference penalty, Taylor's 31-yard miss gave them the run for their money.

“We've got a lot of work to do,” said Cook, who threw for 226 yards and two scores. “I think everyone knows we can be a lot better. We've got to put ourselves in better situations. Ultimately, we've got to execute the game plan and score more points. That's all.”

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