Mizzou’s Bazelak joins Bolton as winners of national weekly awards
Big wins require big performances, and two such performances by Missouri players have been recognized nationally following the Tigers‘ 45-41 upset of defending national champion LSU on Saturday.
Quarterback Connor Bazelak is the Davey O’Brien Award National Quarterback of the Week. That honor came a day after linebacker Nick Bolton received Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week honors Tuesday.
Bazelak completed 29 of 34 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns against LSU in just his second career start. His 85.3 completion percentage is the best ever by a Mizzou freshman and ranks second in school history. His 242.4 passer rating was sixth-best in Mizzou annals, and the best ever against a ranked team. LSU was No. 17 entering the game. He completed 15 consecutive passes at one point, the longest streak since Chase Daniel completed 20 straight against Buffalo in 2008.
Bolton made 11 tackles and broke up three passes in the team’s first win under coach Eli Drinkwitz. One of his tackles (second down) and one of his pass break-ups (third down) came on Mizzou’s game-winning goal-line stand in the final minute, when LSU had first-and-goal at the 1-yard line and failed to score.
