No. 22 Missouri holds on for 9-6 win against UConn

COLUMBIA, Mo. The 22nd-ranked Missouri Tigers nearly made their fans forget about last year’s dreadful loss to Indiana. Instead, Mizzou avoided another nonconference meltdown, this time edging three-touchdown underdog Connecticut.

In front of a near-capacity crowd of 70,079, the Tigers held off the Huskies with a 9-6 victory, sealed by Anthony Sherrils’ interception of a fake field-goal attempt in the game’s final minute.

It’s Missouri’s first win without scoring 10 points since a 3-0 win at Notre Dame in the 1978 season opener.

The Huskies got as close as Missouri’s 25-yard line on the final series, but on fourth-and-4, UConn set up for a game-tying 42-yard field goal. Instead, holder Tim Boyle caught the snap and tried a pass down the seam but Sherrils swooped in and made the game-saving interception.

With the win, the Tigers (3-0) head into conference play, starting with Saturday’s visit to Kentucky. Mizzou has never lost to the Wildcats since entering the SEC in 2012.

After regaining the lead on Maty Mauk’s two-yard touchdown run, the Tigers were a foot away from a second straight score, but the offense failed to move UConn off the ball as defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi swallowed Ish Witter on fourth-and-goal from the 1. UConn couldn’t do anything with the next possession, punting after a three-and-out.

Freshman quarterback Drew Lock re-entered the game with 8:04 left and drove the Tigers close to field-goal range, but on fourth-and-6 from the 33, Missouri kept its offense on the field, opting against a punt to pin the Huskies deep. Instead, Lock threw incomplete for Nate Brown in the end zone, giving UConn new life at its 33-yard line for its final possession.

With a methodical 15-play drive, Missouri regained the lead on Connecticut to open the third quarter, scoring on Mauk’s touchdown run on fourth down. A play earlier, Mauk couldn’t find an open receiver and tossed a pass out of bounds then visibly lobbied the coaches to stay on the field for another shot. After waving off the field-goal team, Mauk dashed down the line and tucked behind right tackle Nate Crawford and scored on the keeper.

With a 9-6 lead, Missouri had the ball on the UConn 6-yard line when the third quarter ended after a short pass to tailback Tyler Hunt picked up 51 yards. Hunt leveled linebacker Graham Stewart near midfield on the play before outrunning the rest of UConn’s defense down to the 5-yard line.

Earlier on the 68-yard touchdown drive, the Tigers converted three third downs, including a 9-yard Mauk scramble to set up first and goal. Mizzou overcame a 15-yard chop block penalty on guard Taylor Chappell that pushed the offense out of the red zone, but Mauk came right back with a 20-yard pass to Witter on the run.

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