October 3, 1998
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Devin West ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns as No. 23 Missouri overcame a sloppy effort for a 35-14 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday.
The game was the first for Missouri (3-1) since losing by an identical 35-14 score to No. 1 Ohio State two weeks ago. Facing Northwestern State (4-1), a member of Division I-AA, the Tigers seemed sluggish early and led only 14-0 at halftime.
Missouri, which entered the game as the nation's top rushing team with 310 yards per game, gained 260 Saturday as it won for the fourth straight time at home. West, who had 30 carries, scored on runs of 17, 5 and 4 yards and topped 100 yards for the third time in four games.
Quarterback Corby Jones fumbled twice and threw an interception in the Northwestern end zone, but scored two touchdowns and set school records for career rushing TDs (34) and TDs produced (54) with sneaks of 1 and 2 yards. Jones was 6-for-10 for 122 yards and ran for 31 yards on 16 carries.
Northwestern State had outscored its first four opponents 139-46 and entered the game fifth in I-AA against the run. Warren Patterson was 15-for-27 for 213 yards and a 27-yard touchdown to Chris Pritchett in the fourth quarter. Missouri was outgained 88-48 in a scoreless first quarter, then scored twice before halftime. West was untouched on a 17-yard run up the middle with 11:56 to go and Jones scored on a 1-yard sneak with 24 seconds left.
The second score was set up when Northwestern State punter Shawn Grigsby had trouble fielding a low snap and decided to run, giving Missouri possession at the Demons' 28 after a 10-yard loss.
Both teams missed scoring opportunities in the final 24 seconds of the half. Ronnie Powell returned the kickoff 50 yards to the Missouri 32 and Wade Perkins nearly returned a badly underthrown ball for a touchdown on the next play, running into teammate Marquis Gibson on a 61-yard play.
Missouri's Tim Geiger was short and to the left on a 43-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
West topped 2,000 career yards midway through the third quarter and made it 21-3 when he scored on a 5-yard option run with 3:37 to go in the third.