After getting embarrassed by No. 1 Georgia, all eyes were on the Wildcats to see if they could turn the page and rebound against the Missouri Tigers.
The Wildcats could not have gotten off to a better start as they forced a three-and-out on defense before marching down the field to score a touchdown to go up 7-0.
The good times would keep rolling at Kroger Field as the following Tigers’ drive was ended after sophomore Maxwell Hairston hauled in his fifth interception of the year.
The Wildcat offense kept it going as the Tigers had no answer for it as it found the end zone again to go up 14-0.
So far, so good, right?
After punts by both teams, it looked like the Wildcats had stopped the Tigers again. This would not be the case, however, as the Tigers dialed up a fake punt that saw the punter throw a 39-yard touchdown that cut the Wildcats’ lead in half as the score now stood at 14-7.
One would think that, as well as the Wildcats had played up to that point, they would be able to take this on the chin and get back up. Again, this would not be the case as the fake punt ultimately set the stage for a full on Wildcats collapse.
“It’s definitely one of those plays that feels like it punches ya right in the gut and we didn’t respond very good after that,” Head Coach Mark Stoops said after the game.
The first thing that led to this collapse was a familiar theme of poor penalties. By the end of the game the Wildcats were penalized 14 times for a total of 122 yards, more than the amount of total passing yards they had.
“They’ve got to understand that sometimes turning the other cheek isn’t a sign of weakness, you’re not getting punked,” defensive coordinator Brad White said.
While things like a holding call from time to time and a pass interference here and there is expected, multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and the sheer amount of holds as well as false starts and offsides calls are a direct result of a team having no discipline.
“We got to learn how to play with passion and not emotion,” sophomore defensive lineman Deone Walker said.
Another issue that is becoming prevalent for the Cats is punting. Sophomore Wilson Berry had another disappointing game, only averaging 38 yards per punt. The deepest the Tigers started a drive the entire game was their own 16 yard line, and this was only because of an interception, not a punt.
The deepest the Tigers started following a punt was their own 36-yard line. This allowed them to play with zero pressure regarding giving up field position or even a safety.
Special teams is a vital part of the game of football and setting your defense behind the eight ball constantly is a formula for disaster.
“It frustrated me as well and we have to look at all options,” Stoops said.
One final major flaw in the Cats’ game on display was that of wide receivers dropping the ball.
After a team loses the momentum, a big play from the offense could do wonders in getting it right back, but drops instead led to Missouri holding onto it.
The drops didn’t just slow the offense, they essentially stopped it in its tracks. In fact, outside of one additional touchdown drive, after getting out 14-0 lead, the offense entirely went away for the night.
These are the kinds of mistakes that will turn what was once a very promising season into another “there’s always next year” kind of season in a hurry.
“As a team we need to grow up and realize it’s a four quarter game,” senior offensive lineman Eli Cox said. “Our leaders have to take accountability for this team and we need to play a more disciplined brand of football and we need to grow up and just respond.”
The Wildcats will have a week to try to correct these errors as they enter the bye week. The next time the Wildcats take the field will be to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. EST at Kroger Field.
