Missouri suffered one of the most demoralizing losses of Eli Drinkwitz’s tenure on Saturday, falling 48-21 to top-ranked Georgia in Athens.
Rock M Nation reported that the contest effectively turned during a disastrous first quarter for the visiting Tigers, who fell behind 21-0 before the period expired.
The defeat dropped Missouri’s road record in opening quarters to just six total points scored across five games this season.
Austin Simmons struggled immediately under center, throwing an interception on the game’s opening play that set up an early Bulldogs score.
Georgia showcased why they hold the No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff standings by dominating both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton dissected the visiting defense for 252 yards and a touchdown while the rushing attack churned out 182 yards on the ground.
Missouri’s secondary continuously struggled to contain opposing pass-catchers, compounding issues from a previous week where they allowed nearly 300 yards through the air against Texas.
Simmons finished the afternoon with 175 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, though his early numbers were heavily impacted by dropped passes from his receivers.
Wideouts Montgomery and Olugbode helped orchestrate stronger offensive sequences late in the second quarter and during the second half after Georgia inserted backup players.
The Tigers ultimately managed a total of 175 yards through the air, but the early deficit proved insurmountable as the team failed to remain competitive while the game remained in doubt.
