University of Missouri
Western Illinois
Missouri Hammers Western Illinois 50-20
9/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2000
By DAVID SCOTT
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Kirk Farmer threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Missouri took advantage of Western Illinois' punting miscues for a 50-20 victory Saturday night.
It was Missouri's fourth straight season-opening win, and the fifth under seventh-year coach Larry Smith. Division I-AA Western Illinois has lost four straight road games and fell to 0-3 against Big 12 teams.
Farmer, returning to start for Missouri after breaking his leg against Iowa State last year, was 10-of-22 for 152 yards. Tailback Zain Gilmore ran for 53 yards and scored twice in the second half.
Plagued by special teams mistakes of their own the last two seasons, Missouri scored three times off botched punts.
Farmer completed his second touchdown pass of the day, a 14-yard toss to Justin Gage, with 5:28 left in the first to put the Tigers ahead 21-6. Gage - who also plays for the Missouri basketball team - set up the score by blocking Mike Scifres' punt at the Western Illinois 26 three plays earlier.
Missouri had gone up 7-0 just 2:44 in on Farmer's 1-yard run, which came after the Tigers recovered a deep snap that flew over Scifres' head.
The Tigers added a safety in the third quarter to go up 23-13, as the Leathernecks recovered a punt blocked in the end zone by Missouri free safety Grant Thornberg.
Sam Clemons and Frisman Jackson were a combined 13-of-31 for 204 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Leathernecks, who lost 13 yards and managed just one first down in the third quarter.
Missouri recorded seven sacks for Western Illinois.
Missouri's Julian Jones intercepted Jackson's pass and returned it 49 yards to put the Tigers up 43-13 three minutes into the fourth quarter. Brandon Ford capped the scoring for Missouri at 50-13 with 6:16 left, catching a 14-yard pass from backup quarterback Darius Outlaw.
William Peterson intercepted Outlaw with 40 seconds left and returned the ball 71 yards for Western Illinois' final score.
