Columbia, Missouri - The Alabama Crimson Tide survived a furious comeback attempt against the Missouri Tigers today, escaping Columbia with a 42-41 overtime win. This was a game of 2 halves as the Tide simply dominated the Tigers in the first half, picking up over 300 of yards of total offense on their way to a 28-7 lead. Jalen Milroe looked near perfect orchestrating the Tide attack in the first half, and it looked as though this was going to be his breakthrough game, but the Tiger defense had other plans. In the second half Milroe simply could not get out of his own way, turning the ball over 4 times (3 interceptions, 1 fumble) and put the Crimson Tide on upset alert. Thankfully where Milroe struggled running back Jam Miller shined, accumulating 318 yards of total offense (259 rushing, 59 receiving) and 4 touchdowns (3 rushing, 1 receiving) and managed to get Alabama into the endzone late in the game to force overtime. In overtime the Tide came out on offense first and quickly worked their way into the end zone, placing the pressure on the Tigers to respond and that's exactly what they did, making quick work of the Alabama defense. Facing the option of either playing for another round of overtime or go for the win the Tigers elected to go all-in and attempted the 2-point conversion. Lucky for the Crimson Tide faithful linebacker Deontae Lawson was able to step in front of a Brady Cook pass in the middle of the endzone and swat the ball down, allowing Alabama to escape with the win. "This was certainly a wake-up call for us," said coach McDonagh at the post-game press conference. "We came out complacent in the second half and it nearly cost us our season. We got very lucky to even take the game to overtime and even luckier to get the win. I tip my cap to the Tigers; they showed a tremendous amount of fight." With the victory the Tide now return home to Tuscaloosa to take on the Tigers of LSU in a match-up of 2 top 10 teams which should help to clear up the SEC title game picture.
In what looked like a routine win for #2 Alabama, Missouri nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season. Alabama dominated the game for the majority of the contest, but a series of uncharacteristic turnovers allowed Missouri to claw its way back into the game, forcing an overtime finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
First Half: Alabama's Dominance
From the opening whistle, Alabama seemed in control. The Crimson Tide’s offense, led by quarterback Jalen Milroe, quickly found its rhythm and methodically wore down Missouri’s defense. The Tide were efficient in both the passing and running game, with Milroe connecting with his receivers and the running backs chewing up yardage. Alabama's defense also stifled Missouri's offense, forcing punts and keeping the Tigers from finding any significant rhythm.
At halftime, Alabama held a commanding lead, and it appeared as though they were cruising toward another comfortable victory.
Second Half: Missouri’s Resilience and Alabama's Turnovers
However, the tide of the game began to shift in the second half, thanks to a series of Alabama turnovers. In a span of just over a quarter, Alabama committed three turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception, all of which gave Missouri life and kept them in the game. Each turnover allowed Missouri to capitalize with short field positions, and the Tigers started to build momentum.
Missouri's offense, which had struggled early in the game, started to find some success. Quarterback Brady Cook made key completions, including a big throw to wide receiver Luther Burden III, who had been a consistent threat all day. With Alabama's defense on its heels, the Tigers finally found the end zone to tie the game and force overtime.
Overtime: A Dramatic Finish
In overtime, Alabama received the ball first and quickly struck, with Milroe finding a receiver for a touchdown. The Crimson Tide were now in position to finish the game with a stop, but Missouri wasn't ready to concede defeat.
When Missouri got the ball, they were unfazed by the pressure. On a crucial 4th-and-1, Cook found Burden in the end zone for a spectacular touchdown catch, keeping Missouri’s upset hopes alive. The Tigers were now just one play away from pulling off the unthinkable.
However, things weren’t quite that easy. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt to win the game was a chaotic one for Missouri. The Tigers found themselves scrambling, and after calling a timeout, the team allowed the play clock to run down almost to zero, putting even more pressure on the next play. When they finally ran the play, Cook's pass was incomplete, sealing Alabama's hard-fought win and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Final Score: Alabama 42, Missouri 41 (OT)
While Missouri fought valiantly, the combination of Alabama’s early dominance and timely turnovers ultimately allowed the Tide to escape with a win. It was a thrilling finish, though, as Missouri showed they are a team capable of making life difficult for anyone. For Alabama, the narrow escape is a reminder that turnovers can be the great equalizer, and they will need to clean up their ball security going forward if they want to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff.
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