The Missouri Tigers came into Saturday desperately needing an SEC win over Auburn, but the way they secured it was certainly not on anyone’s bingo card.
Senior quarterback Brady Cook left the game in the middle of Mizzou's opening possession with an ankle injury, only to return facing a 17-6 deficit as the third quarter wound down.
It was revealed that Cook had actually left the stadium to get an MRI at the hospital before eventually returning to the game. When he re-entered, Mizzou faithful greeted him with a thunderous roar.
"It was so special, that first drive back," Cook said. "Listening to the fans gave the entire team extra juice."
Mizzou connected on a 78-yard pass to Mookie Cooper, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by Marcus Carroll. After Cook ran in the two-point conversion, the deficit was cut to 17-14 just three seconds into the fourth quarter
After a couple of massive stops from Mizzou's defense, Cook got the ball back with a chance to drive down the field and win the game.
Despite facing a fourth down and being behind the chains multiple times, Cook led a 17-play, 95-yard touchdown drive to take the lead 21-17 with just 46 seconds left. The drive was capped off by a 4-yard rushing touchdown from freshman Jamal Roberts.
Mizzou battled through injuries all game, with Brady Cook, Sidney Williams, Brett Norfleet, and Nate Noel all leaving the game at different points. Noel's injury was particularly significant, as he injured his foot on the first drive of the game, sidelining a crucial part of the offense.
The key to today's victory was Mizzou's defense, which allowed just 10 points in the contest. The defense tallied eight tackles for loss, including three sacks, playing a pivotal role in securing the win.
Mizzou will need to regroup ahead of next week's trip to Tuscaloosa. It will be interesting to monitor Brady Cook's health throughout the week, as the captain will surely want to be on the field against Alabama.