Mizzouri's Smith was triple threat in 48-0 win

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Finally, Brad Smith became the double-threat of years past.

In fact, Missouri's junior quarterback was a triple-threat, even catching a pass as Missouri beat Ball State 48-0 Saturday.

Smith passed for two touchdowns, ran for another. He passed and ran for a combined 296 yards, and caught a 5-yard pass on a halfback option. He often slithered away or plain outran would-be tacklers, leaving Ball State defenders grasping for air.

"That's what we expect every week, to come out and do well," Smith said.

Damien Nash carried 16 times for 69 yards and scored three times for Missouri (2-1), two on runs and also on a 43-yard pass play.

The Tigers scored four second-quarter touchdowns en route to their biggest shutout win since a 48-0 win over Kansas in 1986. Missouri has won eight straight at home by an average margin of 28 points, scoring at least 37 points in each of the wins.

Ball State (0-3) punted 10 times, managed only seven first downs, was outgained 471-142 and got inside the Missouri 40 just once. The Cardinals have been outscored this season 126-18.

Smith became just the second player to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000 when he did it as a freshman in 2002. He missed duplicating the feat by 23 yards passing in 2003.

In a season-opening win over Arkansas State and a loss to Troy, Smith averaged 228.5 yards passing but rushed for only 99 yards overall. He gained just 36 yards on 15 carries against Troy, a loss that knocked the Tigers out of the Top 25.

"I feel good that we responded," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "We've got a long way to go. I think we can become a lot better team."

Against the Cardinals, Smith's running was again a focal point of the offense. Playing just over three quarters, he carried 10 times for 83 yards and completed 18 of 32 passes for 213 yards.

Missouri's Joe Tantarelli's kicked a 20-yard field goal for the only score of the first quarter. Then the Tigers scored on four of five second-quarter possessions.

Nash scored on a 2-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Smith's 3-yard run made it 17-0.

Then Smith faked a handoff to Nash at the Ball State 43. The defense converged on Smith, leaving Nash to swing out undefended for a short pass that he ran into the end zone uncontested.

"I don't think nobody's been that open," Nash said.

Ball State quarterback Joey Lynch fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, and Smith connected with Sean Coffey on Missouri's first play for a 15-yard scoring pass.

"I don't know if we lost confidence, but we lost poise and composure," Ball State coach Brady Hoke said. "We didn't have confidence at times that we could go make the plays."

Nash got his third touchdown on another 2-yard run in the third quarter. Tantarelli added a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Brandon Coleman connected with William Franklin on a 41-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Ball State senior wide receiver Dante Ridgeway caught five passes for 53 yards to become the all-time team leader with 150 receptions, passing Deon Chester, who had 146 catches from 1984-87. Cardinals freshman Adell Givens gained 92 yards on 20 carries.

Lynch was 8-of-13 for 40 yards. His longest completion was for 9 yards.

Ball State punter Reggie Hodges averaged 51 yards on 10 punts.

Missouri has next week off before hosting Colorado in its conference opener Oct. 2

"Now it's Big 12 time," Pinkel said. "We've got to become a better football team."