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Mizzou football strong rushing attack torments Mississippi State in route to victory

By Zach Sweet

Nov 23, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) throws against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) throws against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images / Matt Bush-Imagn Images
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The Missouri Tigers (8-3) secured a dominant SEC road win on Saturday, defeating Mississippi State (2-9) 39-20 in Starkville.

The offense was clicking on all cylinders, with the rushing attack standing out as the most effective. Mizzou ran the ball 56 times for 204 yards, controlling the ground game and seemingly doing whatever they wanted.

The Tigers lead the SEC in time of possession, thanks in large part to a dominant rushing offense. They added to this total against Mississippi State, controlling the ball for 41:51 compared to the Bulldogs' 18:09.

Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll have begun to establish their respective roles on the team, with Noel handling the bulk of the carries until Mizzou reaches goal-to-go situations, at which point Carroll comes in to finish off the drives. Carroll found the end zone three times on Saturday, thanks in large part to his tough running style and his ability to break tackles in short-yardage situations.

Saturday's effort was much of what we had been expecting all season, with Mizzou's offense controlling the game and the defense making enough plays to secure the win. Unfortunately, the performance came a little too late, as the Tigers' third loss last week eliminated them from playoff contention.

Brady Cook had arguably his best game of the season, completing 15 of 20 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown to Luther Burden. The connection between Cook and Burden was impressive, with the duo continuing to improve as Cook returns to full health.

The game flipped after a strip sack by defensive end Kristian Williams, followed by a textbook example of "practice execution equals game-day reality," as Coach Drinkwitz often says. With the ball on the ground, Daylan Carnell scooped it up and raced for a 68-yard touchdown, showcasing the "Bolton Drill," a weekly practice at Mizzou for scoop and scores.

Mizzou never looked back, finishing the game with 39 points and securing its largest conference win of the season.

The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when they host Arkansas in the regular season finale.

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