Nov. 4, 2000
By DAVID SCOTT
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Freshman Craig Ochs threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as Colorado scored after three Missouri turnovers to beat the Tigers 28-18 on Saturday.
Colorado (3-6, 3-3 Big 12) has won 14 of its last 16 games against Missouri. Buffaloes coach Gary Barnett, a wide receiver at Missouri under coach Dan Devine in the late 1960s, is 2-0 against his alma mater.
Missouri (2-6, 1-5) has given up 112 points on 25 turnovers this season. The Tigers have scored just 39 points on 22 opponent turnovers.
The Buffaloes jumped to a 7-0 lead, driving 50 yards in 2:02 after Missouri botched a game-opening onside kick, to score on their first possession for the third straight game. The Buffs then took advantage of three Missouri turnovers, scoring after each to lead 28-6 at halftime.
John Minardi returned a blocked punt 36 yards with 11:39 left in the first quarter to put Colorado up 14-0, and Ochs completed touchdown passes of 12 and 15 yards following Missouri quarterback Darius Outlaw's fumble and first interception.
Ochs, who finished 13-of-21, left the game with a sprained right foot at halftime. He was on his way to breaking the Colorado record for consecutive passes without an interception until the final play of the first half, when his desperation pass was picked off by Antoine Duncan.
The interception ended Ochs' streak at 97, three short of John Hessler's school record of 100, set in six games during the 1995 season.
Zac Colvin was 3-of-10 for 25 yards and an interception in Ochs place.
Outlaw, like Ochs starting as a freshman, continued to struggle for Missouri. He threw for 246 yards on 17-of-34 passing, but was intercepted three times, fumbled twice and was sacked 11 times for 88 yards.
The Tigers' first score, however, came on a six-play, 90-yard drive late in the first quarter, on which Outlaw completed all five passes he attempted, including a 16-yard touchdown to Jason Lewis. Justin Scott missed the extra point, leaving Missouri down 21-6.
Missouri closed to 28-13 with 11:42 in the third quarter on Zain Gilmore's 5-yard touchdown run, and Scott added a 34-yard field goal in the fourth to make it 28-16.
Colorado punter Jeremy Flores walked out of the end zone with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter, taking a safety to put the Buffs down 28-18.
Missouri's Lewis, and Colorado's Justin Bannen and Eric McCready all scored their first career touchdowns.
The loss drops Missouri's record to 32-45-1 in seven seasons under coach Larry Smith, who last week said he wouldn't quit after the season. The Tigers travel next week to Baylor and finish the year at home against No. 19 Kansas State.