COLUMBIA, Mo. — In an intense game between the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas State Wildcats, the Missouri coaching staff decided on a bold move in the closing seconds. They agreed that if their team crossed midfield and reached the 40-yard line, they would give Harrison Mevis an opportunity to kick the winning field goal.
The Tigers made it to the Kansas State 38 and quarterback Brady Cook spiked the ball to stop the clock.
However, the coaching staff made a surprising mistake on the sideline, losing track of time. This resulted in a delay of game penalty, pushing the field goal attempt back 5 yards. A challenging 56-yarder turned into a difficult 61-yard long shot from the wrong side of the field.
But none of that mattered.
After an incomplete pass by Cook in an attempt to recoup the lost yardage, Mevis confidently took to the field. With just seconds remaining, he delivered a booming kick, setting a new SEC record with a 61-yard field goal. The Tigers celebrated a thrilling 30-27 come-from-behind victory over the No. 15 Wildcats, creating a field-storming moment reminiscent of their former Big 12 rivalry.
“We intentionally took the penalty to make it more dramatic,” revealed coach Drinkwitz after the game. “After all, this is all for TV. It was all part of the script.”
Truly a fairy-tale ending.
“Right before the kick, I told him, ‘This is your opportunity, you’ve been doing this your whole life,'” Cook shared. “I just kneeled there, watching, and I couldn’t believe it. I was in awe.”
Despite being booed by some home fans during introductions, the beleaguered Cook showed resilience. He finished the game with 356 yards passing and two touchdowns, despite playing through a sprained knee in the second half. Wide receiver Luther Burden III was instrumental, scoring both touchdowns and amassing 114 yards on seven catches.
“Redemption is a beautiful thing,” commented coach Drinkwitz. “It was disheartening to see our starting quarterback booed at the beginning of the game. He went out there and played with all his heart for the team.”
Kansas State’s quarterback, Will Howard, also battled through injuries and had a solid performance with 270 yards passing and three touchdowns. However, his costly interception and the Wildcats’ missed opportunities on third down proved costly as they failed to put the game away.
“We had plenty of opportunities in all three phases,” said K-State coach Chris Klieman. “This is what Big 12 football is like. We need to get used to playing tight ballgames that are hard to win.”
The Wildcats started the game strong, reminiscent of their victory over Missouri in their last meeting. They swiftly marched down the field, with Howard connecting passes to four different receivers for a touchdown. This touchdown marked the beginning of a thrilling contest.
Cook immediately answered with a spectacular 47-yard touchdown pass to Burden, who consistently tormented the Kansas State secondary throughout the game. Following Howard’s interception, Mevis kicked a field goal to give Missouri the lead.
The back-and-forth continued as the Wildcats responded with a swift touchdown drive. The Tigers needed two crucial plays and just over two minutes to score again. Cook capped off the drive with a short run, giving Missouri a 17-14 lead heading into halftime.
Unfortunately, Cook suffered a leg injury, causing the Missouri offense to struggle. The Tigers punted twice at the start of the second half, and Kansas State turned those possessions into a field goal and Howard’s second touchdown pass to Ben Sinnott, putting the Wildcats ahead 24-17.
With the score 24-20, Kansas State missed out on opportunities to widen the gap, failing twice on crucial third downs. Facing third-and-1 with 5 ½ minutes remaining, Howard lost track of time and was called for a delay of game penalty. The Wildcats settled for a field goal to tie the game, which ultimately became a costly decision.
Mevis sealed the game’s fate with his dramatic kick on the final play, saving his coaches from their earlier mistake.
“I would have preferred a 56-yard attempt,” Mevis admitted, “but in the end, it didn’t matter. It’s the same kick.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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