Mizzou D frustrated in loss to Alabama

ATLANTA -- Missouri's attacking defense was already frustrated by Alabama quarterback Blake Sims' quick passes.

The ejection of sacks leader Shane Ray only added to the Tigers' problems.

Defense led No. 14 Missouri to its second-straight Southeastern Conference championship game, but Sims' three-step drops frustrated the Tigers in their 42-13 loss to No. 1 Alabama on Saturday.

The Tigers, who led the SEC in sacks, dropped Sims behind the line only twice. The defense suffered a big loss when Ray, who led the SEC with a Missouri-record 13 1/2 sacks, was ejected for his second-quarter hit on Sims.

"You lose a great player like that, it's going to hurt," said Missouri's other standout defensive end, Markus Golden.

Alabama (12-1) held the ball more than 13 minutes longer than Missouri (10-3). The Tigers' defense suddenly began to give up big plays in the final quarter, when Alabama put the game away with three touchdowns.

Sims completed 23 of 27 passes for 262 yards with two touchdowns. Amari Cooper set a SEC championship game record with 12 catches for 83, most coming on quick screens.

"He was getting the ball off real quick," Golden said of Sims. "They didn't have any five-step (drops). ... We make people have to pass. They didn't have to pass."

After Missouri's second straight SEC championship game loss, a dejected Ray sat at his locker and said he shouldn't have been tossed.

"I don't think it was helmet to helmet at all," Ray said. "My hands hit his helmet first. My helmet was under his chin."

Ray hit Sims immediately after he threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to DeAndrew White in the second quarter. Officials called a personal foul on Ray for targeting and upheld the ruling following a video review. Ray was escorted off the field.

"We attack. We create pressure," Ray said. "That's what we do. That's what I was doing."

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said his assistants in the press box agreed with the officials' call. Pinkel said when "you play a good team like this, you do those kinds of things, you're going to pay for it. And we did."

Sims' accurate passes and the one-two punch of running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry wore down Missouri.

Sims, named the game's MVP, threw two touchdown passes and Yeldon and Henry each ran for two scores. Henry had 141 yards rushing, with more than half coming in the final quarter.

The win assures Alabama of a spot in college football's inaugural playoff.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of this team," said Alabama coach Nick Saban. "I don't know if I've ever been so anxious to win a game for a group of guys."

Missouri was left to await a bowl bid, possibly to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The Tigers made it a one-possession game in the third quarter, closing to 21-13 with 10 straight points. Missouri believed it was in position for another close win.

Wide receiver Jimmie Hunt, who had six catches for a career-high 169 yards, said the Missouri sideline was "crazy" and "everybody was excited" when the Tigers had the momentum.

"We are going against a well-coached team," Hunt said. "They just came out once we got the game pretty close and they did what they needed to do to finish it."

Alabama answered with touchdown drives of 64 and 90 yards. Henry's 26-yard run finished the second drive, and his 1-yard run capped the runaway win.

"Those are two statement drives," Pinkel said. "They came right back, bam, touchdown, 90-yard drive, touchdown. So that's what good teams do, and we didn't do a very good job."

Maty Mauk's scrambling and deep passing gave Missouri a chance. He completed throws of 63, 47, 32 and 26 yards, one of them on a Johnny Manziel-like scramble in which he threw back across his body running to his left.

Mauk completed 16 of 34 passes for 272 yards with one touchown.

Missouri's only touchdown was Mauk's 1-yard pass to Bud Sasser on fourth-and-goal in the third quarter.

Pinkel said he was disappointed with the Tigers' play.

"We'll keep working hard," Pinkel said. "We'll get up and brush the dirt off and get back to work, like we always do."