Missouri flipped game by beating Kentucky on vertical sideline throws

Kentucky could not have scripted a better start to Saturday’s game against Missouri. The offense marched down the field to score consecutive touchdowns to open the game, and the defense forced a turnover on the second possession after getting off the field in three plays to start the game. However, that was unable to prevent a 35-0 blitz by Missouri in the second and fourth quarters.

Things quickly unraveled for the Wildcats. The worst plays of the night on came on vertical sideline throws. Missouri won, and Kentucky didn’t. That flipped what was looking like a potential home blowout win and turned the Week 7 game into a blowout loss.

Missed knockout punch

After taking a 14-0 lead with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter, Kentucky’s defense forced a second three-and-out in three possessions when Deone Walker recorded a sack on third down. The Wildcats would get the ball back with all kinds of momentum.

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen went for a home run on first down at Kentucky’s own 26 with a deep play-action fake from under center.

The fake works as eight Missouri defenders take a step forward to fit the run. That leaves Kentucky receivers one-on-one on the outside. Devin Leary takes a swing for Barion Brown who is streaking down the right sideline with a step on cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine. Unfortunately, the pass is an overthrow.

Kentucky had a chance to put Missouri on the ropes in the first quarter. The Wildcats missed the swing, and the punt team was on the field two plays later. This is when the game officially changed.

Missouri rolls the dice

After Kentucky’s first three-and-out, Missouri puts together a productive drive that was kickstarted by a 25-yard scramble from quarterback Brady Cook. After a bad snap turned into a tackle for loss on third down, Eliah Drinkwitz called out the punt team on fourth-and-10 at the Kentucky 39.

The Wildcats went with a punt safe call with the Tigers in field goal position for star kicker Harrison Mevis. Despite having that call on, Kentucky cornerback Andru Phillips allows Missouri wide receiver Marquis Johnson to beat him down the left sideline.

Ya… that just happened 😱#Mizzou 7, Kentucky 14 | Q2 | #STP #MIZ 🐯🏈 pic.twitter.com/UoB7ejpRa0

— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 15, 2023

Starting punter Luke Bauer delivers a good throw and allows Johnson to make a play. Phillips is in a good position but simply fails to find the football in the air. A stop here could turn quickly into a scoring opportunity for Kentucky. Instead, Missouri flips the game with a gamble and starts a 17-0 run in the second quarter to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.

The game officially flipped on the gutsy call by Drinkwitz.

Tough pass interference call takes away momentum

Kentucky’s offense was riding the struggle bus after the first two drives of the game. However, Liam Coen’s unit answers the bell after Kentucky blocked a Harrison Mevis 46-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.

A 19-yard scramble by Devin Leary moved the chains on third-and-14, and a 31-yard completion to Jordan Dingle gave the Wildcats a first-and-goal at the Missouri two. The drive would end two plays later when Leary connected with Anthony Brown-Stephens to put Kentucky up 21-20 with 3:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The crowd had some juice, and the defense immediately created a third-and-short opportunity. Surprisingly, Missouri decided to take a vertical swing. The Brady Cook pass ultimately hit the turf, but a tough pass interference call on Andru Phillips extended the drive.

Phillips cuts off Theo Wease Jr. and appears to have won the route. Unfortunately, the official believes that contact impeded the receiver illegally. A very tough call at this moment in the game. The incompletion would’ve given Kentucky the ball back at the end of the third quarter. Instead, Missouri took the lead seven plays later. The Tigers would not face another third down on the possession until a third-and-goal at the Kentucky 1.

That pass interference call would ultimately lead to an 18-0 blitz from Missouri in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats never recovered after a tough call. Missouri won the one-on-one plays on the outside and that ultimately turned a potential double-digit loss into a double-digit victory for the road team.