This time, Missouri finishes the job against Troy

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A big day from special teams helped Missouri get its season back on track against the team that derailed the Tigers last year.

Marcus Woods had a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown and the Tigers also blocked a punt in a 52-21 victory Saturday against Troy.

"In every aspect, I think they played at a championship level," Missouri quarterback Brad Smith said. "That's what we needed, and you can see how much it changed the game."

Woods also scored on a 1-yard run to help the Tigers (2-1) snap a four-game losing streak at home, against the team that knocked the Tigers out of the rankings for good last season in Week 2.

Troy (1-2) overcame a 14-point deficit to win last year, deflating the hopes of a team coming off a bowl season and rated a contender in the Big 12 North before going 5-6.

"That was a disappointing, humiliating loss a year ago, being very respectful to them because they went to a bowl and had a heck of a year," Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. "That stung all of us and I'm sure a lot of players drew from that a little as motivation."

Missouri didn't stumble in the rematch, putting the game away with a 25-point third quarter that featured both of Woods' scores. The point total was the school's most since a 52-20 victory against Arkansas State in the 2004 opener.

"The last time we went out there, we pretty much gave in," Woods said. "This game they played us pretty good in the first half and we just stuck it out."

Smith had a 13-yard run, scored on a conversion run after that touchdown and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brad Ekwerekwu to help the Tigers rebound from a 45-35 loss at home last week to New Mexico. Smith had entered the game third in the nation in total offense at 412.5 yards per game, although he committed two costly turnovers last week.

This time, he had no turnovers.

"We weren't really thinking about that during the game, we just focused on what we had to do," Smith said. "After the fact, it feels real good."

Smith was 23-of-33 for 183 yards and Tony Temple (80), Smith (79) and Woods (59) combined for 218 yards rushing on 32 carries.