Mizzou pays price for a blowout at Ball State

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Brad Smith had 229 yards of total offense before leaving in the first half with a concussion 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.

"When you play a quarterback of Smith's style, it puts a strain on your defense. He can beat you with his feet or he can beat you with his arm," said Cardinals first-year coach Brady Hoke.

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, 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.