Kansas finds way to stop Smith, Tigers for third straight year

~ The Jayhawks pulled off a 13-3 win to knock Missouri out of a first-place tie in the Big 12 North.

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- There's been no way to avoid it. Once a year throughout his record-setting career as quarterback at Missouri, Brad Smith had to play archrival Kansas.

As a freshman, he did OK and got a win. But now, three straight subpar performances have led to three straight Kansas wins, culminating Saturday in a 13-3 victory by a team that seems to have found the secret to stopping the most productive quarterback in Missouri history.

"We got to Brad Smith the last couple of years with intense pressure and blitzing," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "It was definitely a scheme designed for Missouri."

The loss broke a three-game winning streak by Missouri (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big 12) and knocked the Tigers out of a first-place tie with Colorado in the Big 12 North.

"I take every game personally, especially with this rivalry," said Smith, who had 480 yards the previous week against Nebraska, when he did things no major college quarterback had ever done.

Jon Cornish scored the game-clinching touchdown on a 10-yard run after Aqib Talib intercepted Smith's ill-timed pitch in the fourth quarter, helping the Jayhawks (4-4, 1-4) snap a four-game losing skid.

"We are very proud of our players," said Mangino. "I can't praise their efforts enough."

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior, came into the game needing 43 yards rushing to break the all-time rushing record for quarterbacks. He also needed 147 yards rushing and 104 passing to become the first Division I-A player to amass 8,000 yards through the air and 4,000 on the ground.

He wound up with 38 yards rushing and 141 passing, one week after shredding Nebraska to become the first Division I-A player with more than 230 yards passing and 230 yards rushing in a game.

"There's not much to say," Smith said. "They find a way to make the plays against us."

Clark Green rushed for 125 yards and scored on a 1-yard run for the Jayhawks, who were playing their first home game in six weeks.

Missouri trailed 6-3 and had a first down on the Kansas 49 in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter when Smith sprinted to his right on an option play and then pitched to Brad Ekwerekwu.

Talib lowered his helmet and came up to meet Ekwerekwu and did not appear to see the ball until it somehow ended up in his midsection.

"I was kind of right there," he said. "I expected to get a big hit and it turned out better."

Said Smith: "It was a little option play. I read the guy and pitched it. But another guy just shot up there and made the play."

Three plays took it to the 22-yard line, then Cornish reeled off consecutive runs of 12 and 10 yards for what turned out to be the victory-clinching TD.

"Three in a row is a wonderful feeling," said Cornish. "The jubilation in the locker room -- nobody's ever felt that great before."

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said somebody missed a block.

"Players missing blocks is the risk of option football," he said. "He [Talib] made a great play and was able to get the football."

The Missouri offense, which totaled 523 yards against Nebraska, had only 75 yards in the first half and 180 for the game.

"We just didn't come out ready to play and didn't make any plays," said Missouri running back Tony Temple. "I think we have to play better and play harder."

The Tigers got two Kansas turnovers in the first quarter and took possession on the Jayhawks 38, 45 and 43.

Yet, all they could manage was Adam Crossett's 39-yard field goal following Jason Swanson's fumble and David Overstreet's recovery on the 43. On Missouri's first possession following Darnell Terrell's interception of Swanson's wobbly pass, Crossett missed a 47-yard attempt.

Swanson, the third quarterback to start this year for the Jayhawks, hit only 12 of 19 for 90 yards and had two interceptions. But he led an eight-play, 49-yard scoring drive that sent the Jayhawks into halftime with a 6-3 lead.

"I never worry about my numbers," Swanson said. "I could throw 1-for-22, but if we come out with a win, I am the happiest guy on the field."

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Kansas 13, Missouri 3

Missouri 3 0 0 0 -- 3

Kansas 0 6 0 7 -- 13

First Quarter

MU--FG Crossett 39, 5:55.

Second Quarter

KU--Green 1 yard run (Webb kick blocked), 6:05.

Fourth Quarter

KU--Cornish 10 yard run (Webb kick), 12:59.

A--48,238.

MU KU

First downs 15 17

Rushes-yards 30-33 49-208

Passing 147 90

Comp-Att-Int 15-39-1 12-19-2

Return Yards 21 48

Punts-Avg. 9-43 6-38

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 9-92 5-50

Time of Possession 25:13 34:47

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Missouri, Smith 20-38, Woods 5-13, Jackson, 1-8, Temple 1-(minus 1), Franklin 1-(minus 2), Daniel 1-(minus 2), Team 1-(minus 21). Kansas, Green 22-125, Cornish, 10-54, Swanson 13-32, McAnderson 2-5, Team 2-(minus 8).

PASSING--Missouri, Smith 14-37-1-141, Daniel 1-2-0-6. Kansas, Swanson 12-19-2-90.

RECEIVING--Missouri, Coffey 7-61, Rucker 2-36, Franklin 2-23, Coffman 1-10, Ekwerekwu 1-7, Britt 1-6, Woods 1-4. Kansas, Gordon 5-29, Simmons 2-33, Fine 2-9, McAnderson 1-12, Murph 1-10, Green 1-(minus 3).