Long drive pushes Missouri football team past Iowa State

MU wide receiver Danario Alexander, right, tries to work his way around Iowa State's Michael O'Connell during the first half of the Tigers' game against the Cyclones on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.   ¦  John Schreiber

It wasn't a typical Missouri drive. Instead of a quick drive littered with deep passes, this drive went:

• 11 plays
• 59 yards

• Lasted 5:57

It was exactly what Missouri needed. It gave Missouri a two-score lead with 4:43 remaining Saturday. Jasper Simmons intercepted Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud with 3:20 remaining to put the game in Missouri's hands.

Missouri beat Iowa State 34-24

The Tigers went into halftime trailing the Cyclones 17-10. A 38-yard touchdown pass from Austen Arnaud to Darius Darks had given Iowa State the lead just before halftime.

By the end of the third quarter, the game was tied 24-24. In that third quarter, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert:

• was seven-for eight passing
  
• threw for 179 yards
  
• threw two touchdown passes

After Gabbert's two touchdown passes, Iowa State found a somewhat unique way to score a touchdown of its own from the Missouri 12-yard line. Arnaud scrambled to his left, seemingly looking for a receiver downfield. Instead, he threw a lateral to lineman Scott Haughton, who was able to run into the end zone for a score.

After the two teams, traded punts, Missouri kicked a field goal to go ahead 27-24. After Iowa State had to punt again, Missouri ran the 11-play touchdown drive to put the game away.

Danario Alexander continued to put up big stats. Alexander broke Jeremy Maclin's Missouri single-season receiving record. Maclin had 1,260 yards in 2008. Alexander has 1,411 yards this season.  Saturday, Alexander had:

• 173 receiving yards

• one touchdown catch.

With the win, Missouri is 7-4 and 3-4 in Big 12 play.