Brady Cook threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns as No. 19 Missouri rallied past Iowa 27-24 on Monday afternoon in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn.
The Tigers (10-3) erased a 24-14 third-quarter deficit. Blake Craig completed the comeback with decisive field goals of 51 and 56 yards in the fourth.
That gave Missouri a double-digit victory total in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013-14.
“To start the season and finish the season ranked is a heck of an accomplishment,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said.
Marquis Johnson caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers. Theo Wease Jr. caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in the first half before exiting the game with an upper-body injury.
Cook, who completed 18 of 32 passes, was Missouri’s leading rusher with 54 yards as the Hawkeyes (8-5) contained the Tigers’ running backs.
“It’s all about the 12-year-old version of myself, sitting there and watching the Tigers on TV, and I’ve officially lived out that dream,” said Cook, a graduate student. “It’s over. The chapter is officially closed.”
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz praised Cook, saying, “Their quarterback has played really well for two years now. It’s no accident that they’ve won 21 games over the last two years.”
Kamari Moulton rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown for Iowa and Jaziun Patterson added 74 yards on the ground. Brendan Sullivan completed 14 of 18 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Iowa took a 7-0 lead on its first possession. Sullivan capped the 70-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown flip to Terrell Washington Jr.
The Tigers responded with an 85-yard drive and Cook’s 8-yard scoring pass to Wease.
Kaden Wetjen answered with a 100-yard touchdown kickoff return touchdown to put the Hawkeyes up 14-7.
Missouri tied the game with a 75-yard drive that culminated with Cook’s 7-yard TD pass to Johnson.
Moulton’s 38-yard run set up his 1-yard touchdown dive with 49 seconds left in the first half. That put Iowa up 21-14 at halftime.
The Hawkeyes increased their lead to 24-14 with Drew Stevens’ 38-yard field goal with 5:19 left in the third quarter.
Cook’s 44-yard pass to Johnson set up Joshua Manning’s 4-yard touchdown run as Missouri cut its deficit to 24-21.
After Toriano Pride Jr. intercepted Sullivan, Craig’s 51-yard field goal tied the game. Craig’s 56-yard kick with 4:36 left put Missouri ahead.
“I’m gonna be completely honest,” Craig said, “I black out when I go out for kicks.”
Iowa’s final possession ended with 1:03 left to play when Missouri stopped Sullivan on its 46-yard line on a fourth-and-inches run.
“Bottom line, we didn’t play well enough against a good team, ranked team, to expect to win,” Ferentz said. “A lot of good things this season … but this one’s going to sting.”
–Field Level Media
