GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Entering the Swamp as a huge underdog on Saturday afternoon, the Missouri Tigers had the 8th-ranked Florida Gators on their heels for most of the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
In fact, the Gators (8-1, 7-1 SEC) didn’t lead until the fourth quarter. A 45-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel to senior running back Mike Gillislee gave Florida a 14-7 lead with 13:32 to play.
Tigers junior linebacker Donovan Bonner forced a fumble by Gillislee deep in Gator territory midway through the second quarter. It was recovered by junior cornerback E.J. Gaines at Florida’s 27-yd line. Shortly thereafter, Mizzou took a 7-0 lead on a 1-yd rushing TD by senior RB Kendial Lawrence.
Mizzou (4-5, 1-5 SEC) led 7-0 at halftime, and held the lead midway through the third quarter, but a 36-yd TD run by Gators senior tight end Omarius Hines tied the game at 7-7.
Down 14-7 with less than a minute to play, the Tigers went on one final drive and threatened to send the game into overtime. Junior QB James Franklin threw an interception in Florida’s end zone on fourth down as time expired.
Franklin completed 24 of 51 passes for 236 yards and four interceptions. He also had 11 carries for 29 yards. Freshman wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham had six catches for 73 yards. Mizzou outgained Florida in total yards 335-276.
The Tigers travel to Knoxville, Tenn. next Saturday to take on the Tennessee Volunteers.