As encores go, Jeremy Maclin was hard-pressed Saturday night at the Edward Jones Dome to top his spectacular debut on the same stage a year ago.

In that 40-34 Mizzou victory over Illinois, the freshman blur from Kirkwood amassed 227 yards of total offense in his first collegiate game after recovering from a catastrophic knee injury. He went on to set a Football Bowl Subdivision freshman record with 2,776 all-purpose yards and become MU's first freshman named consensus All-America.

So this time around, Illinois figured to try to swarm and smother and otherwise obsess over Maclin. And for the most part, the Illini succeeded in squelching him. By halftime, for instance, Maclin had two rushes for 4 yards and three receptions for 21 yards, while not clinging to catchable balls. Then there were three punt returns for 9 yards and a kickoff return for 26 yards.

Could Maclin have lost a step instead of gaining one in the offseason when he was bulking up? Or was Illinois that clued in to stopping him?

But in the instant MU needed it most, Maclin dispelled both questions.

Mizzou quarterback Chase Daniel's errant lob had just gone for a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown by Illinois' Derek Walker, giving the Illini a 13-10 lead and momentum with 9 minutes, 25 seconds left in the second quarter.

Maclin then took the ensuing kickoff at the MU 1, burst behind a wedge up the middle and shifted into turbo to give Mizzou a 17-13 lead and a spark that showed up in two more touchdowns before the end of the half.

The kick return for a touchdown was the fourth of his MU career — including two punt returns — breaking the school record he had shared with John Moseley and Mike Fink. Perhaps more indicative of a new dimension Maclin has brought to MU football: When he returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown last year against Kansas State, it was the first for Mizzou in 25 years and 976 returns. It took him only 14 returns to do it again.

While momentous, that return wasn't the only influence Maclin had on the game. In addition to a 45-yard punt return that gave Mizzou a 45-28 lead, his presence loomed as a decoy. Whether in motion through the backfield or merely roaming through a pass pattern, Maclin constantly drew attention that left Illinois vulnerable to other MU talents such as Derrick Washington, Chase Coffman and Tommy Saunders.

In the fourth quarter, however, Maclin was taken off the field with an injury after falling to the turf while running a pass play. He returned to the bench in the closing minutes with an ice bag on his lower leg and ankle area. No other details were available.

Maclin once again proved himself crucial to Mizzou's cause.

vgregorian@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8199