With time running out on coach Dan Mullen at Florida, going to overtime at Missouri seemed fitting.
Losing on a defensive breakdown did, too.
Backpedaling to avoid the oncoming pass rush, Missouri quarterback Connor Bazelak found Daniel Parker wide open in the end zone for a 2-point conversion to hand the Gators a 24-23 defeat and put Mullen’s future in jeopardy.
Rather than settle for a second OT, Tigers coach Eliah Drinkwitz went for the win after tailback Tyler Badie needed only two runs to answer Florida receiver Trent Whittemore’s third-down touchdown to quarterback Emory Jones to give the Gators the lead.
Mullen’s last stand began on a crisp autumn day on the Missouri prairie leading a group of players with little at stake beyond personal pride, a middle-tier bowl bid and their head coach’s future.
The Gators responded with a gritty effort during an old-fashioned SEC slugfest that had all the makings of a shootout Saturday at Faurot Field.
But Florida (5-6, 2-6 SEC) continued to make the same costly mistakes 12 weeks into the season. Lost opportunities in scoring range, poor special-teams play and breakdowns on defense continued.
A pass interference by senior safety Trey Dean on third-and-5 kept alive a Missouri drive in the final minutes and appeared to seal Florida’s fate. But with 1:09 remaining Tigers kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 46-yard field that went wide right, just his second miss on 19 attempts.
The Gators accepted the gift and played for overtime.
A game featuring four lead changes and two ties ended with Florida’s fourth straight SEC loss.
A 2-yard run by tailback Dameon Pierce made it 13-9 and was the Florida senior’s 14th touchdown, most since Tim Tebow in 2009. But Missouri pulled ahead 16-13 when edge rusher Khris Bogle found himself matched in coverage with Mizzou tight end Niko Hea for a 41-yard touchdown catch from Bazelak.
Jones responded with completions to Malik Davis of 26 and 17 yards, the latter on fourth-and-2, to set up a 33-yard field goal by Chris Howard to tie the score and ultimately force OT.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osgators.