Missouri quarterback Brady Cook made a trip to the hospital during the game, but that didn’t stop him from returning and leading the No. 19 Tigers to a crucial 21-17 win against Auburn. Initially hobbled early in the first quarter, Cook slipped on the turf three plays after getting up slow from a sack, and he remained on the turf for some time. Cook went the hospital for an MRI, but he later returned in the third quarter with Missouri down 17-6.
Cook immediately led Missouri on its first touchdown drive of the game, connecting with wide receiver Mookie Cooper for a gain of 78 yards on third-and-10 near the third quarter. Marcus Carroll finished the possession with a 2-yard rushing score one play later, and Cook rushed for a successful 2-point conversion to cut Auburn’s lead to 17-14.
Missouri and Auburn traded a few empty drives in the fourth quarter before Missouri took over with 4:26 left to play. Led by Cook, the Tigers embarked on a 17-play, 95-yard touchdown drive to take the late lead, converting on a fourth-and-5 in the process. Cook had a couple of key scrambles, including one for 14 yards on third-and-7 to extend the possession and help move the ball into scoring territory.
Redshirt freshman Jamal Roberts finished things with a 4-yard scoring plunge, and Missouri’s defense stifled Auburn on fourth-and-18 with less than 10 seconds left on the clock to secure the win.
Cook’s return, and the fact that it looks like he’ll be okay moving forward, is huge for the Tigers. Entering Saturday’s game, Cook had 1,357 yards passing and seven touchdowns with just one interception. He had at least one passing touchdown in five of Missouri’s six games thus far and also rushed for four touchdowns in the same span.
