South Carolina wins the Columbia Bowl over Mizzou

Well that was certainty a football game wasn’t it?

In a game that took up most of my Saturday, the South Carolina Gamecocks picked up a win in a game they probably shouldn’t have. A gutsy effort by Will Muschamp’s squad led to a 33-yard field goal by Parker White with two seconds left for a 37-35 win over the Missouri Tigers.

For Mizzou the loss moves them to 3-2 and puts a lot of doubt into the future of Barry Odom’s tenure as the head coach of the Tigers.

The game started off well for Mizzou, as they forced a three and out and scored a touchdown on a one yard run for Larry Rountree III. Inexplicably, an onside kick was attempted and the Gamecocks were given prime field position.

South Carolina had to go with Michael Scarnecchia with Jake Bentley nursing an injury. Scarnecchia completed a pass to Deebo Samuel and then followed it up with a five-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Edwards to tie the game up. After a few punts, Mizzou got back into the end zone on another one yard run this time by Damarea Crockett.

A field goal pushed the Missouri lead to 10, but South Carolina quickly got it down to three on another touchdown to Edwards. Missouri missed a couple opportunities to pour it on in the red zone and settled for field goals, but still led 23-14 at half.

Then the craziness started. The rain fell in Columbia and the Gamecocks responded with a touchdown to Deebo Samuel, Scarnecchia’s third of the game.

The next drive saw Crockett bust a long run that was met with controversy. It was called a touchdown on the field, but got overturned when he stepped out of bounds. Not everyone agreed with call, but Missouri was set up at the 10. They then proceeded to implode: A false start, unsportsmanlike conduct and another false start led to an incomplete pass. And the Tigers then were faced with a 3rd and 35. After failing to convert, their punt was fumbled and South Carolina took advantage with a field goal to take a 24-23 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Drew Lock threw an awful interception that turned into a pick six. Mizzou proceeded to miss a 25-yard field goal in the pouring rain. That was hard to watch if you were a Mizzou fan, I promise you.

In the fourth quarter, another Rountree touchdown cut the lead to 31-29 after a failed two-point conversion. The Gamecocks fumbled and the Tigers got a field goal to take the lead back 32-31. South Carolina responded with a field goal and it was 34-32.

Jamyest Williams made an incredible to stop a Missouri drive and get an interception, but the Gamecocks were unable to do anything. Mizzou was driving when the game was put into a lengthy lightning delay. After the delay, Tucker McCann drilled a 57-yard field goal and Mizzou looked like they might escape. But on the next drive, Scarnecchia found Kyle Markway for a 27-yard gain that got them into field goal position. White then drilled the field goal to give the Gamecocks the win.

Drew Lock finished 17-for-36 for 204 yards and two interceptions. That’s two games in a row now without a touchdown for him. Scarnecchia filled in for Bentley nicely going 20-for-35 for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns. Most importantly, no turnovers.

Mizzou didn’t stick to the run game enough as they went for 286 on the ground on 6.2 yards per carry. South Carolina made enough plays to win the game as they look to get another win next week against Texas A&M. After a disappointing loss Mizzou will have to regroup and get ready to go play The Flying Death Machine in Tuscaloosa next week.