COLUMBIA, Mo. — Vanderbilt forced three turnovers and held Missouri scoreless in the second half Saturday but was dealt a 17-14 defeat on the road.
Anfernee Orji and Jaylen Mahoney combined for 23 total tackles including 7.5 for a loss with Mahoney’s 5.0 tackles for a loss matching the Vanderbilt single-game record set by Stephen Weatherly in 2014 vs. Tennessee.
Missouri built a 17-0 lead in the first half but the Commodores got on the board in the third quarter when Orji sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble with CJ Taylor recovering it for a touchdown, his second defensive score on the season.
Vanderbilt pulled within three on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Mike Wright to Gamarion Carter with 3:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. The defense once again stopped Missouri on the next drive but the Commodores were unable to complete the comeback.
Vanderbilt returns home to host South Carolina on Nov. 5.
