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Mizzou football: SECOND HALF COLLAPSE LEADS TO STUNNING LOSS TO LOWLY BAYLOR

by Michael Marcanik

It appeared that a perfect day was ahead for Tiger fans at Faurot Field on Saturday. It was a rare warm Fall day with temperatures in the 70s. The sun was shining and we were ready to watch our beloved Tigers trample Baylor in what was sure to be an easy win at home.

Instead, after an entertaining first half where Missouri built a 27-16 lead over the Bears, the Texas Longhorns suddenly showed up at Faurot Field again. Missouri's defense was lit up in the second half for 24 Baylor points. The Tigers, however, could only respond with five. Baylor 40, Mizzou 32.

Coming into Saturday's game, Baylor had lost four straight games, scoring no more than 10 points in each of those losses. Their stunning victory over Missouri was the Bears' first conference win this season.

After an opening drive touchdown by Missouri, Baylor answered with a short field goal and a touchdown to take over the lead. Mizzou retook the lead in the second quarter with two field goals. Midway through the quarter, Missouri WR Denario Alexander caught a short pass from Blaine Gabbert and ran all the way down the field for a Mizzou score, opening 20-9 lead for the Tigers.

The 84 yard play was part of a huge day from Alexander, who had 214 receiving yards in 13 receptions.

After Baylor cut the lead with a touchdown of their own, the Tigers drove down the field once more, and Gabbert ended the first half with a seven yard touchdown pass to Wes Kemp. The Missouri quarterback completed 21 of 27 passes in the half for 322 yards, leading the Tigers to an 11 point halftime lead.

The second half, however, went drastically different.

Baylor's first offensive possession of the second half resulted in a touchdown; their next resulted in a field goal. It was suddenly a one point game.

Midway through the third quarter, a 51 yard punt from Missouri punter Jake Harry was downed inside the Baylor 1 yard line. Mizzou's defense took advantage, as lineman Dominique Hamilton tackled RB Terrance Ganaway in the Baylor endzone for a safety. The two points put the Tigers up by three.

Baylor QB Nick Florence had his team on his back for this unthinkable come-from-behind victory. Florence threw for 427 yards, completed three touchdown passes and also ran for a touchdown. Florence is filling in at quarterback for Robert Griffin, who is out with a torn ACL in his right knee.

In the fourth quarter, Florence put Baylor ahead of Missouri with a 59 yard touchdown pass to Kendall Wright. Missouri's answer was a three-and-out for negative yardage.

Baylor was rolling. Mizzou was stumbling.

Later in the quarter, the Bears scored again on a seven yard drive that resulted in a touchdown, putting Missouri down by eleven, the lead they once had going into halftime.

Mizzou was able to answer with a field goal, cutting the Baylor lead to eight. The Tiger defense then forced a Baylor three-and-out. The Tigers had one last chance to score with less than a minute to go. The Tigers were able to get to the Baylor 18 yard line but couldn't get any farther.

The Baylor sideline was jumping and clapping as the Tigers took their last gasp. They had just humiliated Missouri on their home field.

Saturday's loss was the second time this season Missouri has blown a lead of more than 10 points. The Tigers were leading by 12 going into the fourth quarter against Nebraska on October 8 before giving up 27 points and losing 27-12 at Faurot Field.

Against Baylor, the Missouri offense only totaled 131 yards in the second half compared to 347 in the first half. Gabbert completed just 9 of his 24 second half passes.