Virginia took advantage in route to a 13-7 Gator Bowl victory
Entering the Gator Bowl, questions loomed over Mizzou regarding a misshapen offense. Matt Zollers was thrown into the starting role once again after Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal last week. Additionally, Kirby Moore departed the program after taking the head coaching position at Washington State.
The cherry on top? Starting TE Brett Norfleet and LB Josiah Trotter were absent with injuries.
Not included in the missing head count was wide receivers Joshua Manning, Marquis Johnson and other portal entrees.
So while the scheme was expected to look different than normal on both sides of the ball, the ugly outcome that happened felt like worst case scenario.
“This is going to stick with me for a while, not doing enough to help [the seniors] find a way to win,” Eli Drinkwitz said.
After scoring on the opening drive of the game, the Tigers could neither find more momentum or stop that of the Cavaliers.
Neither team seemed to be able to make it down the field and add to the board and the first half ended with a telling 7-3 Mizzou lead.
However, the tide began to sway with the opening drive of the second half and Mizzou’s defensive weaknesses were made apparent. UVA Quarterback Charlie Morris and the Cavaliers drained over ten minutes off the clock on the single possession.
Over 19 plays, the Tigers could not find a way to push Virginia off the field. A defense that was nationally praised all year long for important third down stops seemed to completely lose its groove.
According to a previous RockM article at the end of the regular season, the Tigers ranked 10th nationally in total defense, 13th in yards per play allowed and 19th in third down conversion percentage.
On Saturday night? The defensive unit allowed the Cavaliers to convert 13 third downs for a 56.5 success rate.
“They did a good job keeping us off balance,” he continued. “They were running the ball, throwing screens, stymying our pass rush.”
On that drive, Virginia converted on a 3rd and 12, two 3rd and 2’s, 4th and 2 and 4th and 3. Ultimately, running back Harrison Waylee rushed in a go-ahead touchdown that sealed the Taxslayer Gator Bowl Victory for the Cavaliers.
Drinkwitz added that the opening drive was the knockout blow.
“We never at that point were able to get in and settle in on what we needed to do,” said Drinkwitz.
Morris was 10/10 on the night when passing on third down, tying the season record for most completions in a game by an ACC player.
For the rest of the game, UVA’s long drives kept Mizzou at bay. With more third and forth down conversions, tiring out the defense and killing the clock, another field goal was made available for Virginia and Mizzou had to rely on a backup QB last chance draw.
Overall, some defensive weaklinks were not the overall cause for the loss, but it made it that much more difficult for the offense to try to claw its way back in. Mizzou finishes 8-5 on the year, with the program coming just shy of having 3 back-to-back 9 win seasons for the first time in school history.
Category: General Sports
