Mizzou rolls past faltering Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In one week, Brad Smith and Missouri went from mistake-filled to mistake-free.

Smith bounced back from a four-turnover game with 136 yards rushing, three touchdowns and no giveaways and the Tigers had no giveaways in a 45-22 victory over sagging Texas A&M on Saturday.

"Last week was so uncharacteristic of our program and what we're trying to do," coach Gary Pinkel said. "It's not going to be perfect all the time and you're going to make mistakes, but I don't like Missouri beating Missouri."

Smith, a sophomore, became the first player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in two seasons and had scoring runs of 7, 19 and 9 yards. Zack Abron had 141 yards on 20 carries with a 2-yard run to break the school record for career touchdowns and scoring for Missouri (7-3, 3-3 Big 12).

A week ago, Smith lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions -- accounting for all four of the Tigers' turnovers in a five-point loss at Colorado.

"Yeah, this feels better," Smith said. "We came out to play and we played with a lot of enthusiasm."

Texas A&M (4-7, 2-5) was unable to recover from a 77-0 loss to top-ranked Oklahoma last week, although the Aggies ended a seven-quarter touchdown drought with a pair of fourth-quarter scores. The Aggies are 0-5 on the road and will finish with a losing record for the first time since 1982.

"I was just disgusted with the mistakes we made offensively in the first half," coach Dennis Franchione said. "We were our own worst enemy as much as anything.

"They were hurting themselves far more than Missouri was hurting them."

Missouri led 16-0 only 5:34 into the game. The Tigers scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time all season, got a safety on Texas A&M's first possession on a low snap to the punter and Abron scored on the second drive.

Smith, who last season became the second quarterback in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000, has 1,089 yards rushing and 1,559 passing on the season.

Abron has 39 career touchdowns and 234 career points, breaking the records formerly held by Corby Jones (1995-98).

Dustin Long replaced a struggling and ill Reggie McNeal at quarterback in the second half for Texas A&M and threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tim Van Zant early in the fourth quarter. McNeal had 45 yards on 15 carries before leaving with a stomach virus and was 6-for-12 for 78 yards and lost a fumble, while Long was 23-for-29 for 252 yards.

Todd Pegram added three field goals for Texas A&M.

"His performance was a little up and down and there was a reason it was up and down," Franchione said. "He was ill."

Missouri established control early with seven gains of 10 or more yards in the first quarter, three of them in the opening drive capped by Smith's 7-yard scoring run. The Tigers opened the game with a 22-yard run by Smith, a 21-yard carry by Abron and a 16 yard pass from Smith to J.D. McCoy.

Texas A&M's first drive was a disaster. Terrence Murphy stepped out of bounds at the 3 on the kickoff return when the ball stopped just before rolling out, and punter Cody Scates took a knee in the end zone trying to field a low snap.

"The coaches told us if they kick it 3 yards from the sideline then let it go out," Murphy said of his aborted return. "Since it was rainy it kind of stuck and spun."

Missouri is 2-6 in the series against Texas A&M, but has won the last two years.