Mizzou rally falls short this week in Mayor’s Cup football loss at South Carolina

the kansas city star

Sat, Nov 16, 2024, 8:02 p.m.·3 min read

The Missouri Tigers fell just short of collecting their second wild win in as many weeks.

Instead, No. 23-ranked Mizzou football team lost a 34-30 heartbreaker to the No. 21 South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.

For a minute — less than that, actually — it appeared the Tigers’ reliable connection of quarterback Brady Cook to star wideout Luther Burden III might save the day. Needing a TD to retake the lead in a back-and-forth second half, Cook lofted a perfect rainbow to Burden, who hauled in a contested catch and scored.

There was momentarily elation for the Missouri Tigers after wide receiver Luther Burden III, right, caught a late TD toss from QB Brady Cook (not pictured) during a Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 college football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Tigers had pulled ahead 30-27 in this Southeastern Conference showdown with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining. But their lead didn’t last long amid a mad scramble for the Mayor’s Cup trophy that’s awarded annually to the winner of this game pitting schools from cities called Columbia.

Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook drops back to pass during a Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 college football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Gamecocks scored the game-winning touchdown — on LaNorris Sellers’ 15-yard pass to Raheim Sanders — with just 15 seconds left.

With the loss, Mizzou falls to 7-3 (3-3 SEC) while South Carolina improves to to 7-3 (5-3 SEC). Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz’s road record since being hired in 2020 now stands at 7-15.

Cook returned Saturday after missing time with a hand injury, but his comeback under center started slowly. The Tigers struggled to a 21-6 deficit one week after backup QB Drew Pyne pulled a home victory out of his hat with three TD passes after halftime versus Oklahoma.

Missouri Tigers coach Eliah Drinkwitz shouts instructions during a Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 college football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Cook was 13 of 20 for 111 yards in the first half of this one, while running back Nate Noel rushed 12 times for for 64 yards. Missouri put together sustained drives most of the afternoon but settled for field goals exclusively until the second half.

Gamecocks QB Sellers, meanwhile, went into halftime having passed for 209 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He finished 21 of 30 for 353 yards and five TDs while also rushing for 45 yards.

South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Michael Smith somehow made this catch for a touchdown reception despite the defense of Missouri Tigers linebacker Chuck Hicks during a Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Cook directed the Tigers on a couple of long scoring drives in the second half. Marcus Carroll ran for a TD to culminate one and placekicker Blake Craig booted his third field goal of the day to complete the other.

Missouri Tigers placekicker Blake Craig hits one of his field goals during a Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 college football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Cook’s final line: 21 of 31 for 237 yards — his second-best day, yardage wise, of the 2024 season — with one TD and one interception. Not his usual, mobile self, he was credited with just five carries Saturday for minus-19 yards.

Noel’s final line turned out to be one of his best yet in a Mizzou uniform. The back who spent the previous four seasons at Appalachian State finished with 27 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer celebrates after his Gamecocks beat the Missouri Tigers in a Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 college football game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Noel’s top day this year in terms of yards is still his 199-yard effort against Vanderbilt in September. The 27 carries he had Saturday are a season high, however, and his rushing total against the Gamecocks represents his third 100-yard effort as a Tiger.

MU returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 23, with a road game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. That game is scheduled to kick off at 3:15 p.m. Central on the SEC Network.