Kansas State bowls over MU 24-3

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Once Josh Scobey got his feet under him -- and a handle on the ball in a cold, windblown drizzle -- the rest was, literally, history.

Scobey managed just 30 yards and fumbled away a pitchout on his first eight carries Saturday, but finished with 198 yards and two scores on 38 carries. He also broke two school records and tied another as Kansas State became bowl-eligible with a 24-3 victory over Missouri.

"After the turnover, I was beating myself up," said Scobey, whose 1,263 yards this season broke Isaac Jackson's record of 1,137, set in 1973. "That's something I don't do, lay the ball on the ground. I said, 'I've got to get going. The guys are looking to me to go out and get it done."'

Scobey's two touchdowns, a 14-yarder in the second quarter and a 37-yarder in the third, gave him 31 for his career -- in only two years -- tying him with Mack Herron (1968-69).

Scobey, who ran for 104 yards in the second quarter alone, also recorded his seventh 100-yard game of the season for the Wildcats (6-5, 3-5 Big 12). That broke a record he had shared with Jackson (1973) and J.J. Smith (1994).

"It feels good, but it was a total offensive effort," Scobey said. "All those guys were out there working hard to help me accomplish all of the touchdowns and all of the yardage. I'd just like to say, 'Thank you,' because it's been a hell of a ride."

Zack Abron ran for 101 yards on 15 carries for Missouri (4-6, 3-5), which was eliminated from bowl contention in its first season under coach Gary Pinkel. Sixty-three of his yards came on one carry late in the fourth quarter, after the game was well out of reach.

The Tigers, hoping to avenge a 66-0 blowout two years ago, instead saw their scoreless streak at KSU Stadium extended to seven quarters. Brad Hammerich's 39-yard field goal with 53 seconds left broke up the shutout.

"We gave up more yards (317) than I would have liked, but when we had to, we made the plays to keep them off the scoreboard until the very end," Kansas State safety Jon McGraw said.

The Wildcats led 10-0 at the half and took control of the game with two quick scores -- including a safety when Missouri was called for holding in its own end zone -- early in the third quarter.

The holding penalty on tackle Justin Bland wiped out an apparent 25-yard gain by quarterback Kirk Farmer. It came one play after wide receiver Justin Gage was flagged for offensive pass interference -- negating his 27-yard catch to the Missouri 29.

"I don't feel like I was (holding), but if it was called on me, then I'll take the blame and just go on," Bland said. "That wasn't the thing that beat us today."

After the safety, Terence Newman returned the resulting free kick 42 yards to Missouri's 42, and two plays later Scobey broke free for his 37-yard TD and an 18-0 lead.

Both of Kansas State's first-half scores came after botched field goal attempts by the Tigers.

First, Hammerich was stopped at the Wildcats' 9-yard line -- 6 inches short of a first down -- after a bad snap on a 27-yard try forced him to run the ball. Kansas State drove 91 yards in 12 plays -- all runs -- and went up 7-0 on Scobey's 14-yard run.

Turelle Williams blocked Hammerich's 44-yard attempt with 2:11 left in the half -- again, after a high snap -- and Joe Rheem converted with a 22-yard field goal as time expired.

"That's Missouri beating Missouri there," Pinkel said of Williams' block. "That was a very poor snap. It's remarkable to me. Obviously, I'm not doing a very good job, because that's about as fundamental as you get."

Rheem added field goals of 32 and 38 yards in the fourth quarter for a 24-0 lead.

Missouri's punting game was as woeful as its field-goal kicking, with quarterback Kirk Farmer pressed into service by the suspensions of starting punter Jared Gilpin and backup Brock Harvey for violating team rules. He had one punt blocked and shanked the rest, averaging 16.6 yards on his five attempts.

Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson aggravated his sprained left ankle when he was tackled after a 10-yard gain in the first quarter. He was replaced by Marc Dunn for the second straight week.

Dunn was 10-for-18 for 102 yards and didn't throw an interception, after giving up two in last week's 40-7 win over Louisiana Tech.

"I think he did all right," coach Bill Snyder said. "He didn't do everything that you would like him to do, but I'm not sure anyone else did either. But we won, and he was the guy pulling the trigger."

Farmer -- spelled briefly by Darius Outlaw in the second quarter -- was 6-for-24 for 73 yards with an interception.