MU still chases title after close call

The Tigers remain in good position to win the Big 12 North.

By STEPHEN HAWKINS

The Associated Press

WACO, Texas -- Chase Daniel was already getting into a defensive mode, ready to make a tackle if necessary.

With Missouri tied with heavy underdog Baylor at 28-28 and only 2 1/2 minutes left, Daniel thought he had just thrown his third interception. But Jordan Lake, already with a pick, couldn't hold onto another one.

"I just started sprinting the other way," Daniel said. "He was able to read my eyes just enough to get that, and luckily he dropped it. Nine times out of 10, he catches that. We're just glad to get out of here with a win."

Yes, the 13th-ranked Tigers (7-2, 3-2 Big 12) were fortunate.

Instead of Lake stopping the drive, Jeff Wolfert kicked a 34-yard field goal on the next play and the Tigers -- a three-touchdown favorite -- held on for a 31-28 victory Saturday over a Baylor squad looking for a signature victory for first-year coach Art Briles.

It was Missouri's narrowest winning margin since a 27-24 overtime victory over Iowa State in October 2005.

"We got the job done. Personally, it should not have come down to that," said receiver-returner Jeremy Maclin, a sophomore who Saturday became Missouri's career leader in all-purpose yardage. "We are a better team than we showed, but you have to give Baylor credit."

Missouri was poised to build a 21-0 lead to open the second quarter when Daniel's pass was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker Joe Pawelek. The Bears (3-6, 1-4) then drove 80 yards for a touchdown, and after halftime got even twice without ever leading when they scored on three consecutive long drives.

"I was real proud of our team. It was a gut check. It got tough out there," Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. "We did the things necessary to win. That's what good teams do."

Baylor suffered its 16th consecutive loss against ranked teams over the last five seasons, but the others had been by an average of nearly 30 points.

"By us playing well, we are showing that Baylor is not the same Baylor," running back Jay Finley said. "We are out here to win, and we aren't taking it from anybody."

National championship hopes dashed by consecutive losses against Oklahoma State and Texas, the Tigers can still get back into the Big 12 championship game for the second season in a row.

Missouri would be fifth in the Big 12 South but is tied with Kansas for the North Division lead -- and their Nov. 29 regular season finale could determine who goes to the championship game. Missouri has games left against struggling Kansas State and Iowa State, while Kansas still has to face No. 5 Texas.

Baylor, the only Big 12 team without a bowl appearance since the conference's inception in 1996, has to win its last three games to get bowl eligible. That will be a challenge since the Bears have road games against Texas and No. 2 Texas Tech, with Texas A&M in between.

Robert Griffin, Baylor's standout freshman quarterback, was 26 of 35 for 283 yards and two second-half TDs, and had a 4-yard keeper for the Bears' only score before halftime.

"That quarterback is something else," Daniel, who threw for 318 yards and three TDs, said of Griffin.

But Griffin also threw his first interception.

After Wolfert's go-ahead field goal, Baylor had the ball one more time. But Griffin, whose 209 consecutive passes without an interception set a major college record for the start of a career, was picked off by Brock Christopher. Daniel then got to kneel down three consecutive snaps to run out the clock.

"For us to come out and beat Missouri, that would have showed people that we are turning things around," Griffin said. "I don't believe in moral victories, but even in the loss we showed people that we are coming to play every day."