Nov. 6, 2004

Final Stats |  Notes

By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Backup quarterback Alan Webb threw two touchdown passes and Darren Sproles ran for two scores, helping Kansas State rally from an early 21-point deficit to beat Missouri 35-24 on Saturday.

Kansas State (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) scored 21 points in the fourth quarter against the Big 12's best defense to win its 12th straight against the Tigers (4-5, 2-4). The Wildcats' performance was an about-face from last week, when they squandered an 18-point cushion in a 35-25 loss at home to Texas Tech.

Antoine Polite's 20-yard touchdown catch from Webb with 9:39 to go put Kansas State ahead for good at 28-24. Three plays later, Brandon Archer intercepted Brad Smith's tipped pass and returned it 25 yards for an 11-point cushion.

Sproles finished with 160 yards on 20 carries, including a 74-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that cut Missouri's lead to 21-14.

The Wildcats still need victories in their final two games to become bowl eligible for a 12th straight year.

Smith threw two touchdown passes to Sean Coffey for Missouri, which has lost four in a row and blew its third double-digit lead of the season. The Tigers led Troy State 14-0 and Oklahoma State 17-0 before losing.

Webb, who has started three games, stepped in Saturday after Dylan Meier was 4-for-16 for 37 yards. Webb was 6-for-8 for 111 yards and added 52 yards on 12 carries.

Missouri built a 21-0 second-quarter lead and led 21-7 at halftime despite an error-plagued start. The Tigers lost fumbles on two of their first three possessions, and also had an interception.

Kansas State was held to 15 yards in the first quarter and didn't have a first down until midway through the second quarter. The initial first down came on the Wildcats' only successful possession of the half, capped by Sproles' 18-yard touchdown run with 5:33 left.

Missouri running back Damien Nash didn't start after sitting out last week due a disciplinary suspension, but had 118 yards on 12 carries. That included a 66-yard run that set up Joe Tantarelli's 24-yard field goal for a 24-21 lead with 13:08 left.

Smith set a school career record with 41 touchdown passes, two more than Jeff Handy totaled from 1991-94. He finished 15-of-34 for 205 yards and ran for 58 yards on 14 carries.