1. Wow, what a game. That one had absolutely everything. I thought it was over multiple times for both teams. You have to give so much credit to Mizzou for not quitting. Connor Bazelak was a stud in the fourth quarter. Harrison Mevis is, obviously, the MVP and has massive stones. The coaching staff gets all the credit in the world for making sure this team didn’t give up and pulling out another close game. Drinkwitz’s record in close games is pretty ridiculous. That’s the second or third time this year that you probably felt like Mizzou was going to lose in a very Mizzou way and they didn’t. Enjoy it.
2. Bazelak was 8-11 for 150 yards in the fourth quarter. That’s pretty ridiculous for a redshirt freshman. But he doesn’t get all the credit. The two graduate transfer receivers finally looked like they were supposed to look out of camp. Keke Chism was the go-to guy in the passing game and made a couple really impressive over the shoulder catches. Damon Hazelton stayed engaged even though he was clearly in the doghouse earlier this season and it paid off when he was able to make some huge plays late. Barrett Banister was money on third downs, as always. Tyler Badie’s 45-yard TD run was ridiculous. He only ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns, all in the second half.
3. The defense was clearly an issue. With a backup quarterback playing, you have to be prepared for Arkansas to run the ball early and often. Somehow, Mizzou still got gashed on the ground. Trelon Smith finished with 172 yards and three touchdowns and Arkansas as a team ran for 292 yards. The Razorbacks had particular success with counter draws that used misdirection. I have no idea if that was a new look from Arkansas or what, but it fooled Mizzou seemingly every time. Also, no one could cover Treylon Burks, who I thought was the best non-Alabama receiver Missouri has played this year. But give the defense a little credit; it have a couple big stops in the fourth quarter to allow the offense to get back in it. There will be a lot to fix, but it’s a lot more fun to fix that stuff after a win.
4. I’m so glad for Jamal Brooks’ sake that Mevis made that field goal. Brooks got thrust into a tough spot after Nick Bolton’s ejection for targeting. He put himself in position to make the two biggest plays of the game, hitting Burks in the backfield on fourth and one then jumping in front of KJ Jefferson’s pass on Arkansas’ two-point conversion in the final minute. Burks broke the tackle and got the first down by two inches. The pass bounced out of Brooks’ arms and into Mike Woods’ in a fluky play that looked for a moment like it would be remembered alongside the Flea Kicker. That would have been brutal to swallow. Thankfully for Brooks’s sake, it didn’t matter.
5. Let’s talk about the targeting call on Bolton. It was bad. I thought live it might have been targeting, but the more I watch it the more I don’t see enough to eject someone. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t matter whether Bolton leads with his head, but for it to be targeting, he would have to make contact with the receiver’s head, and I don’t think he did. As I said at halftime, I’ll be very curious to see whether Drinkwitz criticizes that call and risks a fine after the game.
6. This matchup got a lot of hype coming in and over-delivered. I think we might have a rivalry here. That’s fun.
So much more coverage to come. Enjoy the win.
2. Bazelak was 8-11 for 150 yards in the fourth quarter. That’s pretty ridiculous for a redshirt freshman. But he doesn’t get all the credit. The two graduate transfer receivers finally looked like they were supposed to look out of camp. Keke Chism was the go-to guy in the passing game and made a couple really impressive over the shoulder catches. Damon Hazelton stayed engaged even though he was clearly in the doghouse earlier this season and it paid off when he was able to make some huge plays late. Barrett Banister was money on third downs, as always. Tyler Badie’s 45-yard TD run was ridiculous. He only ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns, all in the second half.
3. The defense was clearly an issue. With a backup quarterback playing, you have to be prepared for Arkansas to run the ball early and often. Somehow, Mizzou still got gashed on the ground. Trelon Smith finished with 172 yards and three touchdowns and Arkansas as a team ran for 292 yards. The Razorbacks had particular success with counter draws that used misdirection. I have no idea if that was a new look from Arkansas or what, but it fooled Mizzou seemingly every time. Also, no one could cover Treylon Burks, who I thought was the best non-Alabama receiver Missouri has played this year. But give the defense a little credit; it have a couple big stops in the fourth quarter to allow the offense to get back in it. There will be a lot to fix, but it’s a lot more fun to fix that stuff after a win.
4. I’m so glad for Jamal Brooks’ sake that Mevis made that field goal. Brooks got thrust into a tough spot after Nick Bolton’s ejection for targeting. He put himself in position to make the two biggest plays of the game, hitting Burks in the backfield on fourth and one then jumping in front of KJ Jefferson’s pass on Arkansas’ two-point conversion in the final minute. Burks broke the tackle and got the first down by two inches. The pass bounced out of Brooks’ arms and into Mike Woods’ in a fluky play that looked for a moment like it would be remembered alongside the Flea Kicker. That would have been brutal to swallow. Thankfully for Brooks’s sake, it didn’t matter.
5. Let’s talk about the targeting call on Bolton. It was bad. I thought live it might have been targeting, but the more I watch it the more I don’t see enough to eject someone. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t matter whether Bolton leads with his head, but for it to be targeting, he would have to make contact with the receiver’s head, and I don’t think he did. As I said at halftime, I’ll be very curious to see whether Drinkwitz criticizes that call and risks a fine after the game.
6. This matchup got a lot of hype coming in and over-delivered. I think we might have a rivalry here. That’s fun.
So much more coverage to come. Enjoy the win.
