Thursday, August 1, 2013

Season 1, Week 11: Mizzou Feeling Blue: Tigers Lose on Last-Second Touchdown to Kentucky

Kentucky running back Josh Clemons scores the game-winning touchdown with 3 seconds left to give the Wildcats the win over Missouri. Photo by Danny Webster - Playstation 3.

FINAL
Kentucky (5-4, 2-4) 31
Missouri (5-5, 3-4) 24

TOP PERFORMERS
Smith (UK): 27-of-34, 301 yards, 1 TD
Franklin (Mizz): 24-of-28, 257 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Josey (Mizz): 22 carries, 134 yards, 1 TD

Green-Beckham (Mizz): 8 catches, 106 yards
Shields (UK): 8 catches, 117 yards

Ealy (Mizz): 2 sacks (New school record: 12)


RECAP
Calvin Smith has hardly ever taken the blame for a loss. He did this time.

Now, the Tigers, and Smith, must suffer the consequences and pull off an amazing upset if they wish to be in postseason play come December.

After a missed field goal gave Kentucky the ball, Maxwell Smith led a 66-yard drive that was capped off by a Josh Clemons 9-yard touchdown with 3 seconds left to give the Wildcats a shocking 31-24 victory over Missouri.

"That was all me," Smith said. "No one else to blame but me. I cost us that game with my decision making. I let everyone down."

The stage was set for another last-second Tigers win after Kentucky went 3-and-out with less than 3 minutes to go. Running back Henry Josey ran for 36 of his 134 yards on the final drive into Wildcat territory. On 3rd and 1, Josey was stopped at the 34-yard line, and Smith decided to bring out kicker Andrew Baggett for a 51-yard field goal.

The wind, slightly in favor of Mizzou, gave Smith the thought that his kicker could make another game winner, about 25 yards further back than the one he made against Tennessee.

Only this time, Baggett came up three or four yards short on his attempt, and the ball went back to Kentucky with 39 seconds to go.

"Deciding to run on 3rd and short was a good call, in my eyes," Smith said. "Maybe we should've punted because I thought Andrew had the leg to get it through."

Instead, Smith and the Wildcats drove down the field in 36 seconds. On 2nd and 10, Smith found Rashad Cunningham down the left sideline for a gain of 24 to put them at the 9-yard line. On the next play, running back Josh Clemons scampered from nine yards out to win the game.

Smith finished the day with 301 yards and a touchdown, as another no-huddle offense torched the Tigers' defense.

"He can throw the ball well," Smith said. "In our defense, that's how we've been all year. It just sucks to lose like that."

Franklin had another stellar game, passing for 257 yards and adding to his nation-leading yardage total. Dorial Green-Beckham had a quiet offensive output, catching eight passes for 106 yards but no touchdown catches for the first time this season.

The star for the second week in a row for Mizzou was Josey, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark: A first for a Tigers running back since 1998.

Josey's back up, running back Marcus Murphy, was injured in the first quarter with a separated shoulder. He's projected to miss the rest of the regular season, but could be back in time for a bowl game. That is, if Missouri can make it.

A win would've given the Tigers bowl eligibility, but now they have to do it the hard way. They'll take the next week off with their second bye, and then it'll be Senior Day in Week 13 when Alabama comes to town.

The defending National Champions will come to Faurot Field after they try to bounce back on the road at No. 25 Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide lost to No. 10 LSU 38-16 on Saturday, knocking them out of the top-10.

"It's all or nothing, now," Franklin said. "We're not fighting for a division title anymore. We're fighting for postseason play. And it won't be easy. But who said this season would be easy?"

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