Maty Mauk and the Mizzou offense was held mostly in check in the SEC Championship game (photo/Mizzou Athletics)
It looked like we might have some more Maty magic after he threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter to make it a 21-13 game, but top ranked Alabama three touchdowns over the final 15 minutes to solidify their standing as the top seeded team in college football. The game was closer than the final score indicated as the Tigers went into desperation mode late.
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, the SEC Championship MVP, threw a pair of touchdown passes, T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry each had a couple of touchdown runs, and their top receiver Amari Cooper got into the record books with 12 receptions, the most in this championship’s 23-year history.
2014 SEC Championship Final Stats
Nick Saban’s postgame comments
The Tide just has more talent and they dictated play. The Tigers couldn’t run against the front seven defense,as they were held to 41 yards on 23 carries. Mauk was 16 of 34 for 272 yards with the bulk of that coming on consecutive scoring drives in which he found Jimmie Hunt on a 67 yard pass and 43 yarder. Hunt set a Mizzou record for receiving yards in a championship game with 169 yards.
Alabama outgained Mizzou 504-313.
Gary Pinkel’s postgame
Watch Mizzou’s Michael Scherer, Shane Ray and Maty Mauk