The Missouri Tigers made too many mistakes against Auburn that could have lost them the game. His inability to convert on field goal attempts had a dramatic impact on the game and could have decided the final result in a number of ways.

This matchup, full of minimal offensive production and unforced errors, resulted in Missouri trailing 17-6 late in the third quarter and having several opportunities to close the gap.

Kicker Blake Craig had four chances to put three points in the game, but only converted two of them. His two makes were the only points on the scoreboard for Missouri until late-game heroics from quarterback Brady Cook.

Hypothetically, if Craig had made all his attempts, the circumstances of the game and the energy of the fans at the start of the final quarter would have been completely different. A deficit of five points instead of eleven brings a team within one point and gives them some hope. The number of field goals attempted highlighted Missouri’s inability to score in the red zone, but a one-score game is a one-score game.

Craig’s two makes that day put Missouri ahead in a sense. Without both, the Tigers don’t have a chance to take the lead after the two-minute timeout in the fourth quarter. The misses hurt, but without the makes, Missouri’s offense has a lot more work to do to win the game.

Even after Cook’s long ball to receiver Mookie Cooper and running back Marcus Carroll’s subsequent touchdown run, Missouri still trailed by a field goal. With four makes from Craig heading into the final quarter, Cook and the Tigers would have a three-point lead.

However, the script could have been flipped if Auburn kicker Towns McGough had made his 30-yard attempt. The make would have held Auburn to a 20-6 lead, requiring Missouri to score two touchdowns to get within range. The missed field goal put Cook in position to get on the field and lead a touchdown scoring drive.

Early in the third quarter, star Missouri receiver Luther Burden III was hit on a punt return, resulting in a fumble and an Auburn touchdown. This could have easily thrown Missouri out of rhythm and lost the game.

This was an uncharacteristic mistake from Burden, but it still left Missouri even further behind.

Auburn’s longest score of the day, just before Burden’s fumble, was a rare complete deep ball from quarterback Payton Thorne to receiver Cam Coleman. This pass went for 47 yards and was the first touchdown scored by either team at that point in the game.

Thorne’s connection to Coleman was Auburn’s longest completion of the game, the second coming on a swing pass to running back Jarquez Hunter for 18 yards in the second quarter. The rest of the passing yards came from short throws down the middle of the field and most of the total yards they gained came on the ground.

A little luck probably didn’t hurt Missouri, considering how many mistakes there were and what was stacked against them. The game could have gotten out of hand if they hadn’t responded the way they responded to adversity. Both players’ toughness at quarterback for Missouri, combined with a number of defensive stops, ensured they always stayed within striking distance.

Even though it seemed like everything was going wrong for the Missouri Tigers, they made the right plays at the right time that led to a win.

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