Three plays that cost Missouri certain victory vs. Auburn, from field goal mishaps to goal line fumble

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Missouri will leave Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 17-14 loss in hand to Auburn. And the Tigers (the visiting ones, that is) have no one to blame but themselves.

Eliah Drinkwitz’s squad had the game in hand on not one, not two but three separate occasions — once at the end of regulation, and twice in overtime. Each time, Missouri had the worst possible outcome.

Of course, Missouri had to overcome a 14-0 first-quarter deficit, which the Tigers were able to do with short-yard runs from Cody Schrader and Brady Cook, both in the first quarter. Where the offense stymied in the second half, the defense stood up: It limited Auburn to just 97 yards in the second half, including six punts and a turnover on downs.

And still Missouri’s late mishaps — in every phase of the game — gifted Auburn and coach Bryan Harsin a victory. The second-year coach likely is feeling thankful, considering he was reportedly was coaching for his job (per to a pregame report from Fox’s Bruce Feldman):

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Here are the three plays that cost Missouri a victory and a chance to advance to 3-1 on the season:

Missed field goal in regulation

The first mishap occurred with 0:03 remaining in regulation with Missouri sitting on a can’t-miss 26-yard field goal from the 9-yard line. Unfortunately, junior kicker Harrison Mevis did miss the chip shot game-winner:

Mevis, it should be noted, is coming off a season in which he completed 23 of 25 field goal attempts. (He had completed 5 of 7 entering Saturday’s game). Reports from the game indicate he did not warm up ahead of the game-winning field goal.

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Offside on Auburn go-ahead field goal

And so, the game went to overtime. Auburn got the ball first and quickly lost 2 yards on its three ensuing plays, setting up a 44-yard field goal attempt. Anders Carlson’s attempt missed, badly.

Luckily for the home team, the shank did not count: An offside by Missouri negated the play, and Carlson got another chance for a go-ahead field goal. It should be noted a similar circumstance occurred in the waning moments of the first half, with Carlson missing a 50-yard field goal and then a 45-yard field goal to give the game a 14-14 score heading into halftime.

Carlson did not miss on his fourth chance.

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Nathaniel Peat fumble at the goal line

Missouri senior running back Nathaniel Peat will get considerable flack for the play that ultimately ended the game, though he was only placed in that opportunity because of prior mishaps.

Regardless, Missouri — facing second-and-5 from the Auburn 20 in overtime — gave the ball to Peat, who had 91 rushing yards off 19 attempts in regulation. The hometown senior burst through the left side of the line for a run up the sideline and appeared ready to walk it in for the game-winner.

Unfortunately for Peat and Missouri, he attempted to switch hands just short of the goal line to place the ball over the goal line. In so doing, he fumbled the ball across the goal line; Auburn’s Derick Hall recovered it in the end zone, ending the game.

And so the hometown Tigers escaped with a victory on the Plains — with considerable thanks to visiting Missouri.

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