Everything Missouri does seems to work. Back-up quarterback against one of the top defenses in the SEC? No problem. Beat Georgia and Florida in back-to-back weeks? No sweat. You name it, Missouri has done it this season and the Tigers are now the team to beat in the SEC East. Missouri continued to climb the division ladder on Saturday with a 36-17 victory over Florida, holding the visiting Gators to just 151 yards of offense while racking up 500 yards themselves.
Missouri got more than they needed from back-up quarterback Maty Mauk, who completed half of his passes for 295 yards and a touchdown while being picked off once and rushing for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Henry Josey put together a great afternoon on the ground with 136 rushing yards against a Florida defense that was run over by LSU a week ago. This was a game of defense setting up the offense to take advantage and the special teams coming through in a big way for the Tigers. Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett converted all five field goal attempts he was asked to try.
Missouri’s win could not have come on a better day. South Carolina lost to Tennessee and Georgia lost to Vanderbilt, putting Missouri comfortably in first place in the SEC East with a two-game lead in the loss column. Next week Missouri will host South Carolina, who may be without Connor Shaw after suffering a left knee sprain. If Missouri wins next weekend’s battle of the Columbias, the Tigers will take a giant step forward to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship Game.
This Missouri team is for real. They may not be on par with Alabama, LSU or Texas A&M, but in the middle of October they are certainly the class of the SEC East right now, having picked up wins against Florida and Georgia already.
They are Missouri, and they just may be awesome.