Sept 6, 2003

Final Stats?|? Notes

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - Brad Smith had 229 yards of total offense in the first half as Missouri beat Ball State 35-7 Saturday.

Missouri answered an early Ball State score with 21 straight points before halftime. Smith, who scored on a 35-yard touchdown run to give Missouri the lead, rushed for 117 yards on 13 carries and completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards.

The Tigers (2-0) finished with 461 yards of total offense, while Ball State was held to 244 yards, including 41 on the ground.

After Smith left the game in the first half with a concussion, backup Santino Riccio took over the Missouri offense in the second half and extended the Tigers' 21-7 halftime lead.

Riccio, who went 7-of-12 for 59 yards, led the Tigers on a pair of second-half scoring drives, including a 14-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 6:35 and ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Victor Sesay.

Zack Abron, who rushed for 79 yards on 18 carries, finished Missouri's scoring with a 5-yard run in the fourth.

The Cardinals (1-1) took the first lead of the game in the first quarter on a score set up by special teams. Brad Gater blocked a punt by Brock Harvey, recovered and returned it to the Missouri 4.

Two plays later, Andy Roesch threw a 5-yard TD pass to Mark Franklin.

Roesch went 15-of-22 for 114 yards but left the game late in the third quarter with an injured right shoulder and did not return. He was replaced by Talmadge Hill, who completed 8 of 12 passes for 89 yards.

Receiver Dante Ridgeway had nine catches for 96 yards.

The Tigers wasted little time tying the score, when Damien Nash capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run.

After Smith scored to give Missouri the lead, Abron ran for a 1-yard touchdown just before halftime.