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Missouri returns home after scare at Baylor

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:17 AM Kansas State (4-5) at (13) Missouri (7-2), 7:00 pm EST

COLUMBIA, Missouri (Ticker) -- Missouri isn't going to fool itself. The Tigers know they were fortunate to escape with a victory last week at Baylor.

Perhaps the only consolation for the 13th-ranked Missouri is that this week it hosts a Kansas State team that has allowed 110 points in its last two games.

The Tigers (7-2, 3-2 Big 12 North) got a much tougher than expected test in Waco, needing Jeff Wolfert's 34-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining to hold off the Bears, 31-28.

Baylor rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie the game at 28-28 on Robert Griffin's 36-yard touchdown pass to Jay Finley with just under 10 minutes remaining.

However, the Tigers' beleaguered defense did get two stops in the fourth quarter and clinched the victory with an interception with two minutes remaining in the contest.

Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin totaled 161 all-purpose yards, giving him 4,483 yards in his career and breaking Brad Smith's school record of 4,419 yards.

"I wouldn't say that was a great team effort that we gave out there (Saturday)," said Tigers quarterback Chase Daniel, who passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns.

There might be some growing concern in Columbia, however, as the senior has not been as sharp in recent games as he was earlier in the year. Daniel threw two interceptions against Baylor, giving him seven in the last four contests.

Still, Missouri remains in control of its own destiny in the Big 12 North race. If the Tigers beat Kansas State and Iowa State next week, the division title could be decided in their annual grudge match against Kansas on November 29.

Missouri and Kansas remain tied for first in the Big 12 North and are the only two teams over .500 in the division.

Kansas State (4-5, 1-4 Big 12 North) is coming off a 52-21 loss at Kansas in which Wildcats quarterback Josh Freeman committed four turnovers, including three interceptions.

In last season's 49-32 win over Kansas State, Maclin scored three touchdowns and accounted for 252 all-purpose yards.

Among his TDs was a 99-yard kickoff return. It was Missouri's first kick return for a touchdown since 1982, ending the longest drought in the country.