BYU vs Missouri recap: Tigers capitalize on Cougars critcal mistakes

In what was expected to be an emotional game for the Missouri Tigers and their head coach Gary Pinkel, it was the Cougar mistakes that became the deciding factor of the game.

After Mizzou took a 20-10 lead in the final period, the Cougars were unable to engineer another fourth quarter comeback on the season. BYU had a chance to take the lead, after cutting into the lead, with a touchdown catch from Francis Bernard but they were unable to move the ball in their final possession.

Missouri took over with 4:02 left in the 4th quarter and ran the clock out thanks to two key third down conversions.

In what was the turning point of the game, Missouri was able to capitalize on multiple BYU penalties to score their first touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter. The score came after BYU had held Missouri on two occasions but a pass interference penalty on Michael Davis and a roughing the passer call on Sea Tautu extended the drive for the Tigers.

Following the first Tiger touchdown that gave them a 13-10, Tanner Mangum fumbled the ball on the ensuing drive, positioning Missouri with excellent field position.

The Missouri offense came out determined to run the ball and did so with success in the first half. Led by Russell Hansbrough and Tyler Hunt the Tigers were able to dominate the time of possession, limiting the BYU offense to just four offensive possessions in the first half.

Statistically the big difference in the game was on 3rd down. BYU was only able to convert 3-10 while Missouri was able to march down the field multiple times with the help of 13 third down conversions. The extended drives kept the Tanner Mangum and the BYU offense off the field, holding them to just 156 yards of total offense and three points on four drives in the first half.

Coming out the gate in the second half the Cougar offense was moving methodically through the air until they stalled deep in their own zone. On a critical third and two Adam Hine fumbled the ball away, squandering a good chance for points. On the ensuing possession Missouri quarterback Drew Lock threw a ball deep that was intercepted by Micah Hannemann set up BYU in good field position.

After getting help from a five yard penalty on the Mizzou defense, Algie Brown ran the ball in for a touchdown on a perfectly called draw play that gave the Cougars their first (and only) lead of the game at 10-6.

Tanner Mangum finished the day with one touchdown through the air, 244 yard passing with 23 completions on 41 attempts.