Ressel’s field goal wins it for Missouri

The game-winning kick was good with 4 seconds left in the game.

By Evan Glantz

Published Nov. 28, 2009

KANSAS CITY — Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said last year’s loss against Kansas has hung over him and his football team like a cloud. But thanks to sophomore kicker Grant Ressel, the sun finally broke through for the Tigers (8-4, 4-4 Big 12), who beat the rival Jayhawks (5-7, 1-7 Big 12) 41-39 on a last-second field goal.

“I was a little nervous,” Ressel said. “I was trying not to think about it too much and make it like a normal kick for me. But it was hard not to think about the consequences if I missed. So I just thought ‘I’m making this.’ ”

Pinkel had full faith in his kicker, mostly because of the preparation they give Ressel for high-intensity situations.

“What we’ll do is pull him out of practice, and guys will be throwing towels at him and jumping up and down,” Pinkel said. “It’s like Tiger Woods being able to focus and be mentally tough. We were doing the same thing, and obviously he’s a heck of a player.”

Pinkel joked, saying it might be time to put Ressel on a scholarship.

The sophomore almost didn't get the chance to win the game. With 2:59 left on the clock and the Tigers trailing 39-36, Pinkel decided to punt the ball. The Missouri defense responded by coming up big at the most critical point of the game. The unit recorded a safety with 2:39 left in the game, and the Tigers’ offense got a final shot to complete the comeback.

Trying to run out the clock, the Tigers put the ball in the hands of junior tailback Derrick Washington. Instead of gaining a couple yards as Pinkel had hoped, Washington busted off a 27-yard run to bring the ball to the Kansas five-yard line. Washington finished the day with 15 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

After the run, sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert took a knee to run down the clock. With four seconds left, Ressel kicked the game-winning field goal.

“My first thought was that it was a great hold,” Ressel said. “Then I saw a flag go up and I was alarmed because I thought we were going to have to kick again. Once I saw it was on (Kansas) though, I was really happy.”

The game was not all happiness for Missouri, however. Penalties hurt the team on both sides of the ball. The Tigers committed 10 penalties that cost them 106 yards. Four of those came in the first half, when Missouri found itself on the wrong side of a 21-13 score. But then the third quarter began, and the Tigers broke through.

In the first half, senior wide receiver Danario Alexander was limited to five catches for 30 yards. In the third quarter alone, he caught seven passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game with 15 catches for 233 yards, the third time in four games he has brought in at least 200 yards receiving.

“We came in and fought hard, and won on the field goal, so it’s the best feeling ever right now,” Alexander said. “I was just doing my job. I just went out and tried to be patient, wait for the ball and try to make a play when it comes.”