20 for 20 #9: Back to Back East Champs

In a game that wasn’t terribly exciting, Mizzou locked up a landmark achievement after arriving in the SEC.

Mizzou entered the game needing a win on Senior Night at Faurot Field to lock up the East Division and a trip to Atlanta. It was easy to like their chances, too. Following an embarrassing 34-0 week 5 loss at home to the Georgia Bulldogs, the Tigers had rattled off 5 straight wins and were facing a hot Razorback team fresh off 2 shutout wins.

Unfortunately for our Tigers, they came out flat. After committing a couple turnovers, the only point scored by the Tigers were a couple of 50 yard FGs hit by Andrew Bagget, and they went into the half down 14-6.

It took until the fourth quarter for Gary Pinkel’s squad to wake up. With 15 big fourth quarter points, Maty Mauk led the Tigers down the field on back to back 10 play and 12 play touchdown drives. Then to put the bow on the victory, Markus Golden forced and recovered a backbreaking fumble as Arkansas was driving to tie the game up. From start to finish, the defense won this game. The defense held Brandon Allen to just 13-30 passing and forced 2 big fumbles allowing the offense to finally give the Tigers the victory in the 4th.

This victory locked up Mizzou’s 5th division title in 8 years and sent out a historic class on a high note at Faurot Field.