Third quarter triggers MU's escape from Big 12 cellar

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Usually, fans tear down goal posts to celebrate championships. Missouri's players did the honors Saturday to mark their first Big 12 victory in four tries because it came against Kansas.

Brad Smith ran for 117 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown on a quarterback draw, and backup tailback T.J. Leon added 104 yards rushing and two scores in the Tigers' 36-12 victory Saturday. After a mass, bouncing huddle at midfield, players led the charge to remove the north goal post at Faurot Field as fans streamed onto the field.

"This was like two brothers butting heads, a border war," punt returner and receiver Marcus James said. "It's homecoming, it's KU, so why not go out with a bang?"

It's the first time a goal post has been torn down at Missouri since 1998. That was the Tigers' last winning season.

"I don't think I was initiating but I was kind of leaning that way," defensive end Antwaun Bynum said. "All of a sudden everybody just took off. It was an exciting thing for me."

Missouri (4-4, 1-3 Big 12) blew open a tight game with three third-quarter touchdowns. The Tigers, who had lost three in a row, also tied the series with Kansas at 51-51-9.

"Our students, they were going crazy over there," coach Gary Pinkel said. "They could have all gone home with five or six minutes left. As long as nobody got hurt, that's all I care about."

Bill Whittemore threw two TD passes to lead the Jayhawks (2-7, 0-5), but left in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury.

"I'm not going to tell you what the injury is, but I will tell you that it could be serious," coach Mark Mangino said. "We'll know more after he takes some tests Sunday."

The Tigers won without leading rusher Zack Abron, who's out with a partially torn knee ligament. Leon, who had 17 carries, scored on runs of 5 and 7 yards.

"I room with Zack and he told me he wasn't going to go, so we had to step it up," Leon said. "It was a lot of fun to get out there."

Missouri, a 22-point favorite despite its losing record entering the game, ran the ball 10 straight times during one successful third-quarter drive, with Tyron Roberson getting the call five times in a row.

Kansas outgained Missouri 270-158 in the first half, but Johnny Beck missed two field goals -- one after a bounced snap -- and an extra-point kick. Missouri mounted only two drives in the first half and scored on both of them, with Justin Gage turning a little screen pass into a 62-yard touchdown and Leon scoring on a 7-yard run for a 14-6 lead at the break.

"Every time I look up at the Diamondvision and they made a big play, we missed a tackle," Mangino said. "It was very seldom that they blew gaping holes in our defense."