Eli Drinkwitz on 4th quarter mentality vs. Ohio State: 'We're faster, stronger, tougher than you'

For three quarters Friday night, Missouri failed to find the end zone. The Tigers had a hard time making anything happen against a tough Ohio State defense, which entered the game ranked No. 3 in the nation in total defense.

But Brady Cook, Cody Schrader and the offense kicked it into gear, coming away with the 14-3 victory in the Cotton Bowl. In the lead-up to the game, Eli Drinkwitz talked about the “brotherhood,” and he said Friday’s performance showed what that means.

Then, he shared Mizzou’s mentality against Ohio State heading into the fourth quarter.

“Just so proud of our team,” Drinkwitz told ESPN’s Tom Luginbill during the postgame trophy ceremony. “I think tonight was a testament to a wilderness brotherhood — a bunch of guys that have fought through adversity their entire lives and careers. We’re not blue bloods. We’re a dirty, hard-working brotherhood that loves each other, fights for each other.

“We scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. We put our fist up, and we said, ‘We’re not giving in. We’re faster, stronger, tougher than you in the fourth quarter. And we got an elite edge, and we’re not gonna be denied.’ Now, we’re the Cotton Bowl champs.”

Brady Cook: Missouri’s ‘grit’ was the difference in the fourth quarter

Neither team had it easy on offense throughout the game. In fact, a first-quarter Ohio State field goal stood as the game’s only score until Schrader ran in a touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter to put Missouri out in front, 7-3.

The Buckeyes also had to deal with some unique circumstances. Devin Brown was the starting quarterback after Kyle McCord transferred, but he left in the second quarter with a leg injury and didn’t return. That meant Ohio State had to turn to true freshman Lincoln Kienholz under center, and he struggled mightily as he completed 6-of-17 passes for 86 yards.

For Mizzou, though, it felt like something started to click ahead of the fourth quarter. Prior to Schrader’s touchdown, the Tigers had just 105 yards through their first nine drives. That scoring drive, along with the next one that ended with Cook’s pass to Luther Burden, combined for 186 yards.

As for what changed, Cook said it was simple.

“That’s just grit,” he said. “That’s a testimony to all the work this team’s put in and a focus on being a gritty team, not letting adversity get you down. Just man, go back to work.”

The victory capped off a special season for Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri. It marked the program’s first 11-win campaign since 2015, and it came after the Tigers were picked sixth in the SEC East.