No. 9 Missouri beats Florida 33-31

The Florida Gators had lost three straight games, struggled away from The Swamp and hadn’t played particularly well in general for much of the season. 

But Saturday night, the Gators came alive.

And they did it against No. 9 Missouri on the road. It still wasn’t enough.

With an inspired performance, Florida overcame the loss of starting quarterback Graham Mertz to injury and rallied from a nine-point fourth-quarter hole to take the lead late. But the Tigers snatched it back on a 30-yard Harrison Mevis field goal with 0:06 left on the clock to win at home.

Final score: Missouri 33, Florida 31.

The Gators fell to 5-6. Missouri is 9-2.

After Mertz left the game midway through the second half, backup Max Brown lost a fumble and the Tigers scored with 13:14 left on a 77-yard Theo Wease touchdown reception to go up 30-21.

But Brown and the Gators rallied, first with a 9-yard touchdown from Trevor Etienne at the 7:49 mark. Later, on the legs of Etienne, Florida got into scoring position again and Trey Smack’s 35-yard field goal put the Gators in front 31-30 with 1:36 left.

Florida’s much maligned defense had a chance to Missouri down to seal the win. But couldn’t.

The Tigers converted a 4th-and-17 on their way to the win.

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FOURTH QUARTER

–Trey Smack’s 35-yard field goal has given Florida the lead late. (Florida 31-30, 1:36)

-Florida is showing a ton of fight, and the Gators — with their backup quarterback in the game — just went 75 yards on 10 plays. A 9-yard touchdown from Trevor Etienne has Florida right back in this. (Missouri 30-28, 7:49)

-Missouri has taken control. One play after the turnover, Theo Wease had a 77-yard touchdown reception. (Missouri 30-21, 13:14)

-Florida drove deep into Missouri territory, but backup quarterback Max Brown (who replaced the injured Graham Mertz), lost the ball and the Tigers recovered.

THIRD QUARTER

-We have our sixth lead change. Florida’s defense stiffened in the red zone and held the Tigers to a 34-yare field goal from Harrison Mevis. (Missouri 23-21, 3:53)

-What an answer from the Gators. Three plays, 82 yards and a 39-yard touchdown on a reverse by receiver Ricky Pearsall. (Florida 21-20, 7:16)

-Missouri has answered Florida’s score with one of its own. The Tigers scored on a 1-yard run by Cook after going 75 yards on eight plays. A 38-yard reception by Luther Burden was the big play on the drive. (Missouri 20-14, 8:53)

–Trevor Etienne had a 30-yard rush to kickstart Florida’s second half — then scored on a 37-yard pass from Graham Mertz as Florida regained the lead. The Gators went 75 yard on only four plays. (Florida 14-13, 11:54)

SECOND QUARTER

-Missouri has extended the lead with a 38-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis. That capped a seven-play, 41-yard drive. (Missouri 13-7, 1:21)

-Mertz threw a pick that was bobbled by a Florida target. Missouri takes over at the Tigers 37.

-Now, it’s Florida’s turn to force a punt. The Gators will take over at their 20 with 6:21 left in the half.

-Another Florida drive stalled, but this time the Gators got to mid-field. They punted and backed Missouri up on the Tigers 10.

-Missouri is back in front after a 42-yard touchdown run by Schrader. The Tigers had a short field with which to work and capitalized. Schrader already has 79 rushing yards. (Missouri 10-7, 14:29)

FIRST QUARTER

-Another three-and-out for the Gators and then a short punt gives the Tigers the ball near mid-field.

-After going three-and-out itself, the Gators then forced another Missouri punt and will have the ball at the Florida 11 with 1:47 left in the first quarter.

-The Gators forced a three-and-out on Missouri’s second offensive series.

-Florida went 80 yards on five plays and took the lead on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Mertz to Eugene Wilson. Mertz hit Ricky Persall for 61 yards on the drive. (Florida 7-3, 7:49)

-Missouri took the opening kickoff and marched deep into Florida territory before settling for a 22-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis. The drive covered 70 yards on 12 plays. (Missouri 3-0, 11:12)