NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Missouri scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to stave off Vanderbilt and win 37-28 at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday.
Tyler Badie rushed for 254 yards on 31 carries for the Tigers (4-4, 1-3 SEC) and scored twice.
Vandy got 152 yards rushing and 122 passing from quarterback Mike Wright who also threw three touchdown passes. Running back Patrick Smith rushed for a career-high 95 yards.
The Commodores (2-7, 0-5 SEC) have next week off before returning Nov. 13 to host Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC).
With Missouri leading 24-21 to begin the final frame, Harrison Mevis kicked a 32-yard field goal on the first play of the quarter to up the lead to six. Nine minutes later Mevis made a 52-yarder to give the Tigers a 30-21 lead.
With 5:59 left on the clock, Vanderbilt put together a 10-play drive that ended with Wright’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Cam Johnson in the right corner of the end zone. That cut the score to 30-28 with 3:11 on the clock.
But Missouri delivered the knockout blow in seconds thanks to a 73-yard run from Badie. Tyler Macon punched in a touchdown from the 2 right after that to provide the final score.
Tigers’ quarterback Connor Bazelak threw for 218 yards on 22 of 28 passing.
Missouri opened the scoring Saturday with a 46-yard field goal from Mevis. A little less than five minutes later Badie capped an eight-play, 59-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run making it 10-0.
After a second 3-and-out by the Vanderbilt offense, Stephen Benson broke through the Vandy line and blocked a punt which was recovered by the Tigers. But one play later Maxwell Worship picked off a Tyler Bazelek pass.
Two plays later, one of which was a Wright 69-yard run, Wright pitched a 7-yard pass to Johnson for a touchdown cutting the score to 10-7.
Vandy then put together a 13-play, 84-yard drive that lasted exactly seven minutes and ended with Smith’s 10-yard touchdown run on an option pitch. That gave the Dores its first – and last – lead at 14-10 with 8:42 left in the half.
Mike Wright ➡️ Patrick Smith ➡️ 💥
Dores lead 14-10.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/avHQfYXkRN
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 30, 2021
With the score still reading 14-10 and with 22 seconds left in the half, Vanderbilt tried a fake field goal with kicker Joseph Bulovas trying to find running space to his right – but he was slammed down at the Missouri 39. Two Missouri pass plays later, Bazelak heaved a 45-yard desperation pass into the end where Keke Chism leapt and hauled in a half-ending touchdown.
The Tigers ran to the locker room with a 17-14 lead.
Missouri kept that same lead for much of the third quarter until Badie ran in a 15-yard score with 5:28 left in the period. That put the Tigers ahead 24-14.
Vandy answered quickly thanks, in part, to a 70-yard run from Wright. Wright then shoveled a pass to tight end Gavin Schoenwald from the 4 cutting the score to 24-21.
That set up the final and decisive fourth quarter.
Anfernee Orji led the Vanderbilt defense with 12 tackles.
A recap of our last touchdown. 🎥#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/D7AOwYl4WG
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 30, 2021
• Wright’s 70-yard run in the third quarter was Vanderbilt’s longest play from scrimmage this season.
• Smith’s touchdown run in the second quarter was the first of his career.
• Vandy has recorded at least one interception in six straight games for the first time since 2013.
• Vandy has been outscored 110-20 in the first quarter this season.
• The Commodores have allowed points on the opponents’ opening drive in eight straight games.
• Vanderbilt now trails the all-time series against Missouri 9-4-2 and 7-3 since 2012.
• Vanderbilt has now lost 18 SEC games in a row.
• Vandy now has 11 interceptions on the season. The program record for picks in a single season is 24 last set in 1982.
• Attendance on Saturday was announced as 19,821.
