Missouri rolls past Nebraska 41-24

By J.E.  |   Saturday, October 22, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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Quarterback Brad Smith racked up a combined 480 passing and rushing yards as the Missouri Tigers beat their Big 12 rival Nebraska Cornhuskers by a score of 41-24. With the win, the Tigers improve to 3-1 in the conference and 5-2 overall. The Cornhuskers' records fall to 2-2 and 5-2, respectively.

Missouri jumped out to an early 21-3 lead in the first quarter after scoring touchdowns on their first 3 possessions of the game. Smith figured prominently in all three scores. First, he hit wide receiver Tommy Saunders for a 15-yard TD strike. Then, Smith took it in himself from 4 yards out. For the third score, he broke through for a 79-yard run, which would turn out to be just one of several big-yardage plays for the Missouri senior on the day. Smith would finish with 246 rushing yards and 234 passing yards against a very strong Nebraska defense.

Despite Smith's dominating performance, the Cornhuskers came up with some big plays on special teams and defense. In the second quarter, senior safety Daniel Bollocks blocked a punt attempt by the Tigers' Adam Crossett, and the Cornhuskers took over at the Missouri 1-yard line. Running back Cody Glenn punched it in on the next play to make the score 24-17.

A few minutes later, defensive lineman Barry Turner forced a Brad Smith fumble at the Nebraska 31. Jay Moore recovered for the Cornhuskers, and ran the ball back 61 yards to the Missouri 8-yard line. From there, Nebraska QB Zac Taylor found Nate Swift for an 8-yard TD pass to tie the game at 24 going into the half.

But the Nebraska offense was completely shut out in the second half of the game while Missouri was able to reel off 17 more points.

Taylor finished the game 22-of-44 for 271 yards and 2 TDs to lead Nebraska. But he also threw 2 big interceptions that resulted in Missouri points. Meanwhile, running back Cory Ross was held to just 41 yards on 10 carries, and WR Terrence Nunn was equally ineffective. Nunn had just one catch on the day for 23 yards.

Next up: Missouri will travel to Kansas to meet the Jayhawks. The Nebraska Cornhuskers will host the Oklahoma Sooners in Lincoln.
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