Nov 8, 2003

Final Stats

By JOHN MOSSMAN
AP Sports Writer

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Joel Klatt threw two touchdown passes and Colorado hung on to beat No. 22 Missouri 21-16 on Saturday, ending a three-game losing streak.

Colorado (4-6, 2-4 Big 12) built a 21-9 third-quarter lead that Missouri couldn't overcome, despite outgaining the Buffaloes 447-276.

The Tigers (6-3, 2-3) got a touchdown with five minutes remaining when Damien Nash took a short pass and broke three tackles, weaving through the Colorado defense for a 48-yard scoring play.

Brad Smith gets words of encouragement from Colorado Head Coach Gary Barnett.

But on Missouri's next possession, Brad Smith's pass was intercepted by safety Dominique Brooks with 1:58 left. It was the second interception of the game for Brooks, who also deflected a fourth-down pass in the final period.

Smith, who accounted for 380 total yards and threw for two touchdowns, also had two costly fumbles.

Klatt completed 19 of 25 passes for 187 yards.

Klatt's two TD throws in the first half gave Colorado a 14-9 lead.

Both teams scored on their first two possessions.

Colorado went 82 yards, helped by face-mask and pass-interference penalties against Missouri. After throwing a 29-yard pass to D.J. Hackett, Klatt hit Derek McCoy on a 16-yard touchdown throw.

Missouri responded with a 79-yard, 19-play drive that consumed 8:22 and included runs by Smith of 12, 13 and 14 yards. The drive was kept alive by a roughing-the-punter penalty against Colorado, but it stalled inside the 5 and Michael Matheny kicked a 19-yard field goal.

Colorado's ensuing 80-yard drive included another facemask penalty against Missouri and back-to-back runs of 10 and 14 runs by Brian Calhoun. Klatt hit Lawrence Vickers on a 3-yard touchdown pass for a 14-3 lead with 12:43 left in the half.

Smith's 15-yard run set up his 17-yard scoring pass to Victor Sesay, but the Tigers were unsuccessful on the 2-point conversion pass.

Colorado lost Klatt for two plays because of a bruised right hand and punted, and Missouri mounted another scoring threat. Smith carried for 18- and 21-yard gains, but he fumbled just short of the goal line and Colorado's Brian Iwuh recovered.

Missouri had one more opportunity in the waning seconds of the half, but Smith's pass was intercepted by Brooks at the goal line.

Early in the third quarter, Klatt completed a 22-yard third-down pass to Hackett, and Calhoun ran 3 yards for a touchdown and a 21-9 lead.

Helped by a personal-foul penalty against Colorado, Missouri marched to the Buffaloes 25, where Smith fumbled on the first play of the fourth quarter and Colorado's Clyde Surrell recovered.

Marcus James' 27-yard punt return gave Missouri another scoring opportunity, but Smith's pass on fourth down from the Colorado 40 was tipped by Brooks and fell incomplete.

As Colorado struggled to make first downs, Nash scored, capping an 85-yard drive.

On Missouri's final series, Brooks stepped in front of Thomson Omboga and intercepted at the Missouri 27.