Offensive struggles and Cook injury stifle Missouri in loss to Alabama

The 21st ranked Missouri Tigers were shutout by 15th ranked Alabama on Saturday afternoon, falling 34-0 in a matchup with significant Southeastern Conference and College Football Playoff implications. 

Missouri’s offensive woes were notable, as the Tiger defense, despite holding the team in the contest for one half, withered against Alabama’s punishing running game in the second half.  For the second consecutive game, MU quarterback Brady Cook left the contest early, but unlike the prior week, this time Cook did not return in the second half with an “upper body injury”. 

With 4:58 remaining in the first half, back-up quarterback Drew Pyne replaced Cook, with the Tigers only trailing by a 6-0 score, with Alabama only amassing 122 total yards of offense to that point. 

On his first pass attempt, Pyne was intercepted, followed three plays later by a three-yard touchdown run by Jamarion Miller, leaving the Crimson Tide with a 13-0 advantage.   Twenty-one unanswered points followed for ‘Bama in the second half.

A defensive standout for Mizzou in the Tigers second loss of the season was defensive end Johnny Walker Jr., who had two sacks, four tackles, and two tackles for loss. 

Missouri has an idle week for the first Saturday of November.  The Southeastern Conference has announced that Mizzou’s November 9th game with Oklahoma at Faurot Field in Columbia will be a night game, with either a 6 o’clock kickoff on ESPN or a 6:45 kickoff on the SEC Network.