Missouri vs. South Carolina: Game Grades, Analysis for Tigers and Gamecocks

One year after South Carolina pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback to beat Missouri, the Tigers returned the favor on Saturday night, beating the No. 13 Gamecocks 21-20.

The Tigers couldn't do anything offensively until the final seven minutes in the game. Trailing 20-7, Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk led the Tigers on a quick 35-second drive to cut the lead to 20-14.

After another defensive stand, Missouri scored again with less than two minutes remaining, which proved to be the difference in the game.

Missouri improves to 4-1 on the season, while the Gamecocks fall to 3-2.

Final stats from Saturday's game can be found on NCAA.com.

Here are grades and a brief analysis for each team in this SEC East showdown.

Position Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	D	C
Run Offense	C+	B
Pass Defense	B-	B-
Run Defense	B-	B-
Special Teams	B	B
Coaching	B	B+

Missouri Tigers Game Grades

Pass Offense

The Tigers could get nothing going in the passing game until late in the fourth quarter. Throughout the first half, Mizzou struggled to protect Mauk, who, in turn, was off on just about everything.

Bud Sasser stepped up for the Tigers in the fourth quarter, making several big catches. Overall, it wasn't a great effort but a much-improved one late in the second half. 

Run Offense

The Tigers had a strong effort on the ground. Russell Hansbrough rushed for 43 yards and three touchdowns, while Marcus Murphy finished with 98 yards rushing. Missouri's biggest play on the ground was Mauk's 25-yard run early in the fourth quarter. 

Missouri finished the game with 148 yards on the ground. Murphy and Hansbrough continue to be an underrated duo. 

Pass Defense

The Tigers forced Dylan Thompson to be off target several times, particularly in the fourth quarter. However, many of Thompson's incompletions in the first half were due to drops. If South Carolina receivers would have helped Thompson, the Gamecocks would have scored more points.

Credit Mizzou's defense for several big stops in the fourth quarter, though.

Run Defense

Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds both had solid games. But, outside of one drive, South Carolina's running backs didn't beat Missouri. The Tigers did a solid job of holding the Gamecocks to just 119 rushing yards overall. Davis accounted for 104 yards on the ground. 

Missouri was especially good in short-yardage situations and forced South Carolina to punt nine times. 

Special Teams

The Tigers didn't make any big plays on special teams; however, Murphy did have a 23-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to set up Missouri's game-winning touchdown.

Fortunately for Mizzou, kicker Andrew Baggett didn't hurt them this year. 

Coaching

Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel did an outstanding job by staying patient with his offense despite a disastrous first 53 minutes. He had confidence in Mauk to go down the field, despite several near interceptions. 

Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel had the call of the game, sending a cornerback blitz against the Gamecocks on a 2nd-and-goal from the Missouri 2-yard line. The Gamecocks were forced to kick the field goal, and that proved to be the difference in the game. 

Position Unit	First-Half Grade	Final Grade
Pass Offense	B	C-
Run Offense	B	B+
Pass Defense	A	B+
Run Defense	B	B-
Special Teams	B-	B
Coaching	B+	C+

South Carolina Gamecocks Game Grades

Pass Offense

Dylan Thompson got off to a better start in this game than he had in others, but he still wasn't consistent throughout the game. In the first half, South Carolina's receivers dropped several passes. Tight end Rory Anderson dropped an easy touchdown that cost the Gamecocks four points.

On the game's final drive, Thompson forced four straight throws into coverage instead of checking down and getting any positive yardage.

Run Offense

Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds combined for 142 yards on 30 carries. Steve Spurrier called for a few designed quarterback runs that led to first downs, too. Even though Thompson isn't quite the athlete Connor Shaw was, he converted those runs into first downs on three different occasions. 

The running game, as usual, was solid from the start. 

Pass Defense

Missouri was terrible passing the football for the majority of the night. South Carolina did a nice job of sending five and six rushers throughout the game. The plan forced Mauk off his spot numerous times.

The Gamecocks dropped at least three potential interceptions that could have clinched this game for them.

Run Defense

The Gamecocks were solid against the run all night. Missouri got its yards, but it wasn't easy. The Tigers' longest run of the night was Mauk's 25-yard scramble in the fourth quarter.

The Gamecocks did allow the Tigers to rush for three touchdowns. 

Special Teams

Hey, the Gamecocks didn't allow a kickoff return for a touchdown. That's progress. 

South Carolina did a nice job on returns for most of the night, with the exception of Murphy's punt return in the fourth quarter. That set up Mizzou's final score. 

Tyler Hull averaged just less than 44 yards per punt, while Elliott Fry connected on both of his field-goal attempts. 

Coaching

Coaching didn't lose this game for the 'Cocks, but Spurrier's decision to go for it on fourth down in his own territory early in the game cost the team seven points. Other than that, Spurrier called an excellent game. Execution hurt South Carolina.

Defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward was terrific. He did a nice job of designing pressure on Mauk all game long. The defense continues to improve, but those last two drives were troubling.