Missouri closes strong to defeat shorthanded Ohio State in Cotton Bowl

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ARLINGTON, Texas — A reporter called them “The Big Three” in the lead up to the game.

And boy, did the St. Louis trio prove that nickname right.

When Missouri seemed down and out, it turned to running back Cody Schrader, quarterback Brady Cook and wide receiver Luther Burden III. They came to the rescue.

No. 9 Mizzou, at the end of its spellbinding season, is the Cotton Bowl champion.

The Tigers claimed the New Year’s Six Bowl win with a 14-3 victory over No. 7 Ohio State on Friday evening in AT&T Stadium.

For a while, there were more punts than completed passes. Mizzou won’t care one bit, as it finished the year 11-2 and has its first bowl victory of the Eli Drinkwitz era.

Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III celebrates his touchdown against Ohio State.

Here are three instant takeaways as the Tigers knocked off the Buckeyes:

Cody Schrader’s swan song

Nothing was working. Indeed, nothing the Tigers tried looked remotely close to working.

That is until speedy freshman wide receiver Marquis Johnson, playing in his home state, took off downfield late in the third quarter and hauled in Brady Cook’s pass for a 49-yard gain to the Ohio State 15-yard line.

Prior to that point, Missouri had managed just 40 passing yards. The Tigers had not yet visited the red zone.

An illegal substitution took Missouri to the 10. A false start sent them right back. Brady Cook hustled for 8 yards, bringing an end to the third quarter.

And then, the hero of so many Mizzou wins in this marvelous run to the New Year’s Six, Schrader, did what he so often does.

The running back tore right up the middle, took a couple hits from the Buckeyes who had beat MU’s offense blue all evening, but stayed upright before falling across the goal line.

Tigers 7, Buckeyes 3. Points, at last.

Of course, it was Schrader, who was playing in his final game of college…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/missouri-closes-strong-defeat-shorthanded-045217287.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2023-12-30 04:52:17

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