Missouri-Iowa State Game Notes

Nov. 2, 2002

Senior All-Big 12 WR Justin Gage became the Big 12 Conference's all-time leader in receiving yardage with a 6-yard reception on the Tigers' first drive. He passed Aaron Lockett of Kansas State (1998-2001), who had 2,389 yards. Already the Big 12's career leader in receptions -- which he became last week against Kansas -- Gage now has 182 receptions for 2,417 yards for his career.

Gage also extended his school record for consecutive games with a reception to 31 today. The previous record was 28, held by Kent Layman from 1997-99. Gage has caught a pass in every game in which he's lined up as a receiver since converting from QB after his freshman year.

On a 5-yard pass to Clint Matthews early in the third quarter, redshirt freshman QB Brad Smith broke Missouri's single-season record for total offense. Smith eclipsed the record of 2,545 yards held by Corby Jones in 1997; Smith now has 2,683 total yards this year.

That one-year total of 2,683 yards also puts Smith just 567 yards away from moving into MU's career top-10 in total offense.

With his 37 yards receiving on the day, Gage now has 788 for the season, which is eighth on MU's single-season records chart. Gage will finish his career with each of his three receiving seasons listed among the top nine single-season yardage marks in MU history.

In addition, Gage's seven receptions are now No. 3 on Mizzou's single-season receptions list with 65. He passed former Tiger Kenny Holly, who caught 60 balls in 1992.

Iowa State's first-quarter interception of Brad Smith marked Missouri's first turnover in four games (last came vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 5). Missouri finished even for the game after coming into the game plus-10 (+1.25/game) for the season. Both teams scored a touchdown on the other team's lone turnover.

J.D. McCoy caught his first career touchdown pass in the first quarter with a 6-yard reception from Gage. It was Gage's fourth career touchdown pass -- his second as a throwing receiver -- and Gage's first since he connected with Ben Fredrickson against Baylor last year.

Fredrickson's 41-yard pass reception from Smith in the second quarter was a career long.

Junior TB Zack Abron cracked MU's single-season scoring top-10 with his 1-yard plunge in the second quarter, then added a three-yard run TD run later in the quarter. He now has (78+next) points on the season, which has him tied with Donnie Smith (1960) and Johnny Roland (1962) for fourth place.

Smith moved into MU's single-season top-10 in passing yards with his 241-yard outing this afternoon. Smith now has 1,827 passing yards on the season, which moved him ahead of Corby Jones (1,658 yards in 1997), Phil Bradley (1,780/1978) and Steve Pisarkiewicz (1,792/1975) for No. 8 on the single-season list. With three games remaining, Smith is just 637 yards away from breaking Jeff Handy's 1992 school record of 2,463 yards passing.

Antwaun Bynum's block of a Tony Yelk punt attempt midway through the third quarter was Mizzou's first punt block of the season.

Darius Outlaw's 55-yard TD catch with 7:59 left in the third quarter -- which gave MU its first lead of the game at 28-27 -- was a career-long reception.

Junior DL Russ Bell doubled his season total of pass break-ups with his pair this afternoon vs. ISU. On the day, the Tigers broke up six passes from Seneca Wallace.

Marcus James' 80-yard punt return for a touchdown was officially MU's first since Justin Gage returned a blocked punt 18 yards vs. Southwest Texas State last year. However, the last time Missouri fielded a punt and returned it for a TD was back in 1990 when Niu Sale turned the trick vs. TCU.

Senior LB Sean Doyle had nine tackles on the afternoon, giving him 323 for his career. That ties him with Erik McMillian (1984-87) and Jay Wilson (1980-83) for No. 7 on the Tigers' career list. Current Iowa State assistant coach DeMontie Cross (1994-96) still holds the school record with 415 stops over his career.

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