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Daniel tosses five TDs as Missouri slams Colorado

Nov 4, 2007 - 3:41 AM BOULDER, Colorado (Ticker) -- Chase Daniel and Missouri did not waste any time showing Colorado who's boss this season.

Daniel threw five touchdown passes as the ninth-ranked Tigers cruised to an easy 55-10 road victory over Colorado in a Big 12 Conference matchup at Folsom Field on Saturday.

Chase Coffman caught three scores for Missouri (8-1, 4-1 Big 12 North), which remained in the hunt for the top spot in the Big 12 North - one game behind surprising Kansas (9-0, 5-0).

"Last year, we played the non-conference schedule really well, but then struggled down the stretch," Tigers linebacker Van Alexander said. "This year, I think the chemistry is good and everything has fallen in place for us to make a run, and possibly win the Big 12 North. It's a great feeling."

The Tigers, who have lost four straight meetings here since a 41-31 win in 1997, pounded the Buffaloes early and often.

"Being in this environment, and not winning here in like 150 years, our kids are very different," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. "We have got great leadership, and I have said that throughout the year.

"We have players that are very committed to preparing the right way, and we fought through the adversity."

Colorado took a 10-7 lead after the first quarter, but Missouri scored 24 answered points before halftime to take a 31-10 advantage into the break.

Daniel threw a 46-yard TD to Jeremy Maclin just 54 seconds into the period and a 25-yard score to Coffman with 1:32 left in the second quarter.

"(Daniel) is pretty good," Colorado caoch Dan Hawkins said. "They have a good team, good personnel, and a good scheme. They really know how to run it. It's very efficient.

"You really have to dot your Is and cross your Ts to have a chance against a team like this."

The toss to Coffman provided the halftime margin and effectively sent the Tigers to just their third win in the last nine meetings with the Buffaloes.

The junior wide receiver set a Colorado school record with 19 career TD catches, surpassing former Buffaloes star Justin Gage, who snagged 18 TDs from 1999-2002.

"That's neat, I'm happy about it," Coffman said. "I have another year so I just need to keep working hard and keep making plays."

The third-year signal caller, who was 26-of-44 for 422 yards with an interception, found Coffman for his final two scoring tosses - a 23-yard TD to make it 38-10 and a 5-yard connection to make it 48-10 with 45 seconds left in the third.

"They bailed me out on some pretty bad balls. We played well today," Daniels said. "Even before we started the game plan, we wanted to get the ball down the field more. It's been almost non-existent.

"It was good to come out here and get the ball downfield. That's what I like to do, that's what our receivers like to do. It keeps them more involved, and it keeps them excited about the offense."

Byron Ellis scored his team's only touchdown on his lone carry for Colorado (5-5, 3-3).