Missouri football straight-up *escaped* Week 3 with a wild win over Troy. Seriously, it felt like they dodged an upset bullet, getting out of there with a victory right before SEC play kicks off. This was far from easy for Eli Drinkwitz’s squad, and honestly, it wasn’t their sharpest performance of the season, especially after that dominant showing against Kansas last week.
Sophie Cunningham, The Unsung Hero
But get this: Missouri got a totally unexpected assist from former Missouri women’s basketball legend Sophie Cunningham in the absolute final moments! Troy kicker Ethan Head was lining up for a monstrous 54-yard field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter. The stakes were high. And what did Missouri do? They threw up an image of Cunningham on the jumbotron, huge, wearing her Indiana Fever jersey. She appeared to be pointing right down at the field, directly at Head, as the Tigers clung to their lead. And get this: IT WORKED! The tweet from Tyson Ellison51 said it all: “The #Troy kicker, distracted by #Mizzou great Sophie Cunningham, missed the field goal that would have made this a one score game. Even while in the #WNBA Sophie is helping Missouri win.” Talk about a legend still making plays, even from the jumbotron!
Offensive Woes and Defensive Grit
Troy, down by 10 points with just 2:46 left in the fourth, made the call to go for that 54-yard field goal instead of a fourth-and-one at the Missouri 36-yard line. A huge decision, right? And then Head missed, thanks to a little jumbotron magic. But the game wasn’t over. Missouri’s offense followed up with a quick three-and-out, putting all the pressure back on the defense. And that D? They absolutely delivered, snagging a game-clinching fourth-down stop to seal the deal. Quarterback Austin Simmons, in his third start for Missouri, just didn’t have his best day. The Mississippi transfer completed only 10-of-19 passes for a mere 91 yards and a touchdown. That’s a huge step back after coming into this non-conference game with back-to-back performances where he threw for at least 250 yards and three touchdown passes. Oof.
Big Streaks and SEC Play Next
Despite the struggles, that win keeps some impressive streaks alive. Missouri has now won its 16th consecutive non-conference game. That’s no joke! And under Coach Drinkwitz, they’ve racked up 49 overall wins. Now, the real test begins. The Tigers are heading on the road to kick off SEC play against Mississippi State. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26, at 7:45 p.m. ET. It’s time to see what this team is really made of when they step into conference play after a nail-biting escape like that!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply