Eli Drinkwitz, Beau Pribula complimentary of Mizzou freshman kicker Robert Meyer
When Missouri needed to extend its lead, it called upon an unexperienced leg.
Robert Meyer, a freshman from Auburn (Cali.) Colfax, lined up from 40 yards out with 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday. Before Meyer ran onto the field, head coach Eli Drinkwitz reiterated his confidence in his kicker.
“After the timeout, I just looked at him and said, ‘We believe in you,'” Drinkwitz said. “And he went out there and made it. Some people say they don’t talk to their kickers, but Robby, I don’t think it would’ve mattered either way, so I figured I’d just make myself feel better.”
Meyer split the uprights, marking the longest kick of his young college career by 15 yards and giving Missouri a 29-20 lead over South Carolina. The Tigers held on to defeat the Gamecocks.
“Really proud of Robby for making that kick,” Drinkwitz said. “That’s not an easy kick to make in that moment. And he did an excellent job there.”
For Meyer, who replaced an injured Blake Craig late into Week 1, he also garnered praise from Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer.
“Robby Meyer, ice in his veins,” Pribula said. “When the game mattered most, he stepped up to be a true freshman. To do that in a night game, SEC conference game like that, that’s huge for him, and I’m happy for him.”
“Credit that kicker,” Beamer added. “I know he’s their backup.”
After missing the first extra-point attempt of the game, Meyer completed all three of his field goal attempts. Drinkwitz never addressed his freshman for the miss. And after sinking the game-sealing kick, Meyer sprinted to his own sidelined, ecstatically leaping into his teammates and coaches.
