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No. 9 Missouri beats No. 13 OSU 41-31 in Cotton Bowl

Missouri running back Henry Josey is on top of the world after scoring one of his three touchdowns against Oklahoma State. (Associated Press)
Missouri running back Henry Josey is on top of the world after scoring one of his three touchdowns against Oklahoma State. (Associated Press)
Stephen Hawkins Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas – Henry Josey ran for 92 yards and three touchdowns, the last a 16-yarder with 3:08 left, and No. 9 Missouri beat No. 13 Oklahoma State 41-31 in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

The former Big 12 and Big Eight rivals traded points on six consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter, until Oklahoma State quarterback Clint Chelf was sacked and fumbled with a minute left. Defensive lineman Shane Ray picked up the ball and rumbled 73 yards down the sideline in front of the stunned Cowboys bench to score.

SEC East champion Missouri (12-2) matched its school record for victories, giving the SEC its 10th win in the last 11 Cotton Bowls, all against the Big 12.

Josey’s go-ahead TD came a play after James Franklin’s 27-yard pass to Dorial Green-Beckham to convert on third-and-9. Franklin, the Missouri quarterback whose final two seasons were plagued by injuries, had two fumbles earlier in the second half when Oklahoma State (10-3) overcame a 10-point deficit to tie it in just over 31/2 minutes.

Ray had been dragged into the end zone by Desmond Roland when the Oklahoma State running back bulled through the line for a 2-yard TD run with 5 minutes left to give the Cowboys their only lead of the night. Ray hit him immediately at the line, but couldn’t keep Roland from scoring.

Franklin was only 15-of-40 passing for 174 yards with an interception, and almost another returned for a score.

Chelf threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, completing 33 of 57 passes. He also ran 10 times for 48 yards, including a 23-yard run to convert a third-and-10 only a few plays before he was sacked by All-SEC defensive end Michael Sam sacked Chelf and knocked the ball loose.

That gave Sam 111/2 sacks, the most in the SEC and matching a school record.

Missouri wrapped up its second SEC season since leaving the Big 12. The Tigers debuted in their new league with a losing season, but made it to the SEC championship game in Year Two before losing to No. 2 Auburn.

“What a great way to finish the season,” said Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel, whose 102nd victory snapped a tie with Don Faurot for the most in school history.

With the game tied, Franklin appeared to throw his second interception with 9 minutes left. But with Tyler Patmon running 40 yards to the end zone for an apparent go-ahead touchdown, a flag was thrown for pass interference and Mizzou kept the ball. The Tigers settled for Andrew Baggett’s 46-yard field goal.

Oklahoma State then went 75 yards for its only lead, the longest play on the drive being when Tracy Moore was fully extended and lunging forward when he caught a 41-yard pass to the Tigers 28.

The Cowboys were trying to win 11 games for the third time in four seasons.