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Missouri coasts to easy win over Illinois State

Sep 22, 2007 - 11:55 PM COLUMBIA, Missouri (Ticker) -- Missouri gets to rest before its schedule gets a lot harder.

Chase Daniel passed for three scores and Jeremy Maclin scored two touchdowns, leading the 25th-ranked Tigers to a 38-17 victory over Illinois State of the Football Championship Subdivision on Saturday.

Maclin caught a touchdown pass and also returned a punt 64 yards for a score. It was Maclin's second punt return for a touchdown this season, tying a school record.

Missouri, which is off to its third 4-0 start under coach Gary Pinkel, is off next week before hosting No. 24 Nebraska on October 5 in a showdown that could go a long way toward deciding the Big 12 Conference North Division title.

The following week, the Tigers play at fourth-ranked Oklahoma.

"There are always things to work on," Pinkel said. "We've got a break week now and then we start Big 12 play. I told my team the consistency of play is what we need to improve on."

While Daniel threw a pair of interceptions, Missouri (4-0) did not get caught looking ahead as the Tigers needed only 17 seconds to get on the board against Illinois State (2-2).

After Maclin returned the opening kickoff 38 yards, Daniel tossed a 57-yard touchdown pass to William Franklin on the first play from scrimmage.

Missouri also reached the end zone on its next possession, taking a 14-0 lead on Daniel's 11-yard TD strike to Tony Temple with 6:03 left in the first period.

Daniel, who completed 21-of-34 passes for 294 yards, threw his third TD strike early in the second quarter, an eight-yarder to Maclin that made it 21-3.

"Playing a team like this defensively is like running a marathon," Illinois State coach Denver Johnson said. "You're just absolutely wasted after it's over."

Daniel has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season, putting him ahead of the pace he set last year, when he threw a school-record 28.

"I didn't play well," Daniel insisted. "It's good to get those picks out of my system and I can guarantee they are out."

Temple rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries, including a one-yard run that extended Missouri's cushion to 31-10 with 49 seconds left in the third quarter.

Maclin's punt return capped Missouri's scoring just 84 seconds later.

"We wanted to be 4-0 going into conference play," Temple said. "We did that and now we have to focus on the Big 12."

The high-powered Tigers fell just short of reaching 600 yards for the second straight game. They finished with 581 yards after gaining 619 in last week's 52-24 victory over Western Michigan - the sixth-highest total in school history.

"We've got a chance to get rested," Pinkel added. "I think that's good. We'll get a couple extra practices."

Maclin was reminded that Nebraska gave up 600 yards in Saturday's 41-40 victory over Ball State.

"Hopefully, we can do the same," Maclin said. "We want to put up yards and score. That's what the offense is for."

Luke Drone completed 22-of-37 passes for 242 yards for Illinois State. Geno Blow paced the Redbirds on the ground with 116 yards on 21 carries.