The Missouri Tigers entered Saturday’s home game against Vanderbilt riding high after a big road win at Florida, dominating from the opening whistle in the 38-17 victory. However, that success didn’t translate to the first half on Saturday afternoon.

The longest rush the Tigers had allowed all year was 23 yards, so naturally, the first Vanderbilt drive ended with a 65-yard touchdown run by Ke’Shawn Vaughn. The defense didn’t get much better from there, allowing four more plays of 20-plus yards in the first half alone.

Mizzou QB Drew Lock also had a bad play early in the game, tossing another inexplicable interception as he faced pressure. That time, though, the defense held and the Rebels missed a field-goal attempt on the drive.

Then, slowly but surely, things started changing in the Tigers’ favor. By the end of the third quarter, they had cut the Commodores’ lead to 28-26, though the ‘Dores were carrying most of the momentum, entering the fourth quarter with a 4th-and-goal situation from the one-yard line.

A goal-line stand by the defense to start fourth quarter inspired some hope in the Tigers, and they went 99 yards to take a 33-28 lead. Then the defense started playing better, forcing a punt on Vandy’s next possession and another turnover on downs on the possession following that.

The offense still struggled, though, with Lock tossing a pass that bounced off his receiver’s chest for an easy interception. Even when Lock made a nice 42-yard throw on a drive late in the fourth quarter, K Tucker McCann missed a field goal, keeping the score 33-28 and giving the Commodores even more life.

Once again, the defense was up to the task, though, sacking QB Kyle Shurmur on the next play and hanging on for dear life as the Commodores marched down the field. Shurmur threw a pass to the end zone as time expired with a chance to win, but it fell incomplete, and surprisingly, the Tigers caught a break as the refs kept their flags in their pocket.

Not having TE Albert Okwuegbunam and RB Tyler Badie hurt the offense, but the Tigers still did just enough to hand on for the win. Now, the Tigers are bowl-eligible, improving to 6-4 with the hard-fought victory on a cold day at Faurot Field.

Freshman TE Daniel Parker — a former defensive lineman — earned a big shoutout in the victory, filling in for Albert O and Kendall Blanton and putting up three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers ran for 253 yards and threw for 253 yards, a very balanced effort.

Damarea Crockett led the way with 122 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and Dominic Gicinto led the Tiger receivers with four catches for 81 yards.

Next up for Mizzou is a trip to Tennessee to take on an improving Vols squad. Then, the Tigers close the season with a home rivalry game against Arkansas.

The Commodores host Ole Miss and Tennessee the next two weeks to close out the regular season.