Pinkel pockets first win at MU

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Zack Abron scored two first-half touchdowns and ran for 106 yards as Missouri and new coach Gary Pinkel beat Southwest Texas 40-6 Saturday night.

Missouri (1-1) easily outclassed the Division I-AA school, recording two safeties and holding the Bobcats (1-1) to minus-23 yards rushing in the first half and just 116 yards in offense overall.

The outcome couldn't have been a bigger switch for both teams in their second week. The Tigers struggled to find any consistency last week in a 20-13 loss to Bowling Green, but cruised to a 26-0 first-half lead and ended the game with third stringers on the field.

The Bobcats, meanwhile, were coming off a 52-7 win against Arkansas-Monticello, a game in which they rushed for 407 yards.

Missouri scored on its second possession, an extension of its first after Southwest Texas punt returner Justin Vogt fumbled away Brock Harvey's kick. Eight plays later, Abron's 5-yard run put Missouri ahead 7-0.

The Tigers' first safety came on a goofy play at the end of Southwest Texas' first possession that had Missouri sports information officials calling the NCAA to find out how to score it correctly.

After a high snap that ended up in the end zone, punter Marvin McCurry managed to get off a low kick that bounced off Missouri defender David Monroe at the 11 and wound up in the end zone. McCurry recovered the loose ball and was tackled by Gary Anthony for the safety, giving the Tigers a 9-0 lead.

Abron's second score, a 4-yard run with 14:08 left in the second, and quarterback Kirk Farmer 8-yard touchdown pass and run for the 2-point conversion moved Missouri ahead 24-0.

After a week of speculation following a poor outing against Bowling Green, Darius Outlaw started for Missouri but alternated series with Farmer, the projected starter coming into preseason who broke a finger on his throwing hand in an off-field incident on Aug. 6.

Lee Davis, who scored four touchdowns and ran for 283 yards against Arkansas-Monticello, was held to nine yards on ten carries in the first half. He got the Bobcats' sole score, an 8-yard run in the third quarter, and ended with 52 yards on 18 carries.

It was the first win at Missouri for Pinkel, brought in to rebuild the program after Larry Smith was fired at the end of the 2000 season.