No. 21 Mizzou mounts comeback to defeat Arkansas 28-21 thanks to more late drama

Déjà vu.

In a season filled with late drama, the Missouri Tigers (9-3) escaped at home, once again, securing a 28-21 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks (6-6) on Saturday.

Trailing 20-14 with 5:14 remaining in the game, facing a fourth-and-8 at the Mizzou 40 yard-line, Taylen Green rolled out to his right and found Andrew Armstrong for a 25-yard completion, extending the drive.

This set up Ja'Quinden Jackson for a 12-yard rushing touchdown just two plays later, his third of the game, giving Arkansas a 21-20 lead with just 4:19 left in the game.

Brady Cook got one last chance to lead a game winning drive at Faurot Field, and he made the most of his moment. Cook found the end zone on a wide-open quarterback draw up the middle for a 30-yard rushing touchdown. On the two-point conversion attempt, the Tigers ran a version of the Philly Special with Cook finding Luther Burden in the end zone, giving them a 28-21 lead with just 1:53 on the clock.

Needing a stop to secure the game, Mizzou's defense exemplified "bend don't break," conceding big chunks of yardage, but ultimately coming through with a big stop to win the game.

On senior day, fittingly, Johnny Walker Jr. helped propel the Missouri Tigers to a victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks, forcing multiple fumbles, both of which led to Marcus Carroll touchdown runs.

Trailing 14-10, late in the third quarter, Jackson ran the ball up the middle on first-and-10, but Walker came in to force a fumble and give Mizzou possession on Arkansas' 34-yard line.

On the Tigers ensuing drive, it was a heavy dose of rushing attempts, a common theme for the entirety of Saturday's contest, as Mizzou finished the game with 47 rush attempts for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

Carroll ran the ball up the middle on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line, punching it in for a touchdown. The Tigers emphatically took a 17-14 lead just 75 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Mizzou's defense stepped on the next possession once again, forcing Arkansas to punt the ball near midfield.

Cook linked up with Theo Wease on a short pass that wound up going for 70-yards after Wease broke an initial tackle. This set up Blake Craig for a 34-yard field goal, which gave the Tigers a 20-14 lead with 9:39 on the clock.

For the second consecutive week, it was the Missouri Tigers defense that sparked the team early on, with Walker Jr. forcing a Taylen Green fumble on Arkansas' second drive of the game.

When Mizzou got the football on its ensuing possession, the Tigers marched down the field on an eight play, 40 yard drive, capped off by a Carroll 2-yard touchdown run. This gave Mizzou a 7-0 lead with just 2:23 remaining in the opening quarter.

Following the touchdown drive, when the Razorbacks got their next opportunity, they didn't let it go to waste. Green led his team on a 15 play, 80-yard drive that lasted 7:41 in total. Jackson punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown, good for his 13th of the season, ultimately leveling the score at 7 a piece with 9:42 left in the first half.

Mizzou shot themselves in the foot multiple times, with the Tigers picking up personal fouls on both sides of the ball. Chuck Hicks costed the defense on Arkansas touchdown drive, gifting them first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, setting the Razorbacks up for their eventual touchdown.

On the ensuing offensive drive, Luther Burden picked up a personal foul of his own, throwing an open-handed slap after a six-yard rush, putting Mizzou behind the chains and ultimately leading to a punt. Burden finished the opening half with zero touches and just a single target.

The Tigers' defense picked up a stop late in the half, thanks in large part to an Eddie Kelly Jr. sack. This set the offense up with 1:42 on the clock and an opportunity to put up points heading into the break.

However, when Mizzou got the ball into Arkansas territory, Eli Drinkwitz poor clock management struck again, seemingly conceding the half after multiple rushing attempts.

Arkansas lost a crucial aspect of its defense late in the first half when premier defensive end Landon Jackson was carted off with an apparent head/neck injury.

That didn't hamper the Razorbacks coming out of the locker room, however, as the Hogs' defense forced Mizzou into a three-and-out on its opening possesion of the second half.

When Arkansas got the ball back, the offense moved down the field with ease, completing a 50-yard drive with Jackson's second rushing touchdown of the game. This touchdown came from 12-yards out and gave the Razorbacks a 14-7 lead after just 3:19 came off the clock in the third quarter.

Mizzou's ensuing drive took up more than half of the quarter, with the Tigers continuously pounding the ball on the ground. Ultimately, it was Arkansas who had the last laugh, halting Mizzou inside the red zone and forcing a 28-yard Blake Craig field goal. This cut the deficit to 14-10 with just 3:06 remaining in the third.