Rapid Reaction: Mizzou defense comes up big, Tyler Badie carries Tigers to home victory

Mizzou and South Carolina can never play a normal football game. Whenever these 2 teams meet up for the Mayor’s Cup showdown, craziness seems to ensue.

That was certainly the case on Saturday evening in Columbia, Missouri, where questionable penalties hampered both teams throughout the game.

Then, the Tigers took a 31-14 lead before letting the Gamecocks come back. A horrendous interception thrown by QB Connor Bazelak late in the fourth quarter allowed South Carolina to cut the deficit to 31-28 with 4:30 left.

But, at the end of the day, the Tigers, thanks to Tyler Badie’s late heroics, held on for a 31-28 victory.

The Tigers took their first lead of the day when Ohio State transfer WR Mookie Cooper got wide open and hauled in a 60-yard TD pass from Connor Bazelak in the second quarter:

https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1459640650765414400

In the third quarter, after a previous interception was called off due to a questionable defensive holding penalty, the Tigers scored on defense via this play where Martez Manuel knocked the ball out of South Carolina QB Jason Brown’s hands and Trajan Jeffcoat pounced on the ball in the end zone:

BOOM ? @MizzouFootball pic.twitter.com/0fRTzbXpNP

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 13, 2021

Mizzou RB Tyler Badie had a big game, and continues to work his way up the list of all-time single-season rushing yards leaders in Tiger history:

Tyler Badie has passed Henry Josey (2013 and 2011) for the number 5 spot on Mizzou’s All-Time single-season rushing yards.

Badie’s TD run brings him to 141 yards rushing on the day, 1,171 yards on the season.

— The Mizzodcast (@mizzodcast) November 13, 2021

Badie finished with 34 carries for 209 yards and the below touchdown. He also had 6 catches for 22 yards:

#Mizzou RB Tyler Badie has been incredibly impressive today. Dual threat as a runner and receiver, up to 148 yards today, averaging 5.3 YPC.

Ideal 3 down back at the next level. pic.twitter.com/udFF7H79NM

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) November 13, 2021

The much-maligned Mizzou defense had perhaps its best performance of the year. In addition to the touchdown scored above, the Tigers had 13 QB pressures by the time the game was early in the fourth quarter.

South Carolina’s offensive line has struggled, yes, but the Gamecocks couldn’t run the ball at all against Mizzou’s awful run defense.

South Carolina (5-5) returns home next weekend. The Gamecocks will end their regular season with home games against Auburn and Clemson.

Mizzou (5-5) will host Florida next weekend before ending the regular season at Arkansas. Will either of these teams be able to pick up win No. 6 and earn a bowl berth?