BOULDER, COLO. — In Saturday's 36-17 win at Colorado, Mizzou matched its point production in all three of its previous Big 12 games combined.

It was no coincidence that sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert was as unencumbered by an ankle injury as he had been since injuring it Oct. 8 against Nebraska.

While Gabbert certainly wasn't 100 percent, a week of what he called "accelerated treatment" that included several days with the ankle in a cast apparently paid off.

He was more mobile, as he demonstrated on a 16-yard run, and he generally was more accurate than he'd been since Sept. 25 at Nevada.

Also aided by a better running attack, Gabbert completed 17 of 29 passes (58.6 percent) for 192 yards and two touchdowns after not completing better than 50 percent in the last three games.

But his game also was splotched by two interceptions, including one returned 78 yards for a touchdown. That left coach Gary Pinkel saying Gabbert has to learn to make better choices in such situations, "which he's very capable of doing."

SHOCK AND AWE

Among the game's most memorable plays was holder Forrest Shock's fake field goal shovel pass for a 24-yard touchdown to Jacquies Smith. The last time the junior from Osage Beach remembered throwing a TD pass?

"That's the first time ever," he said, laughing. "So that's sweet."

Shock and Smith said MU had practiced the play only twice in the last week.

"Wasn't that big a deal" to execute, said Shock, who noted Smith "made everything happen."

So much for the Shock factor. As for the awe?

That came on receiver Jerrell Jackson's stunning reception in the second quarter, somehow reaching behind not only him but the CU defender trailing him to haul it in with one hand.

SACKED OUT

Freshman defensive end Aldon Smith had three of MU's eight sacks, giving him eight for the season. Missouri's record is 11, held by Justin Smith in 2000. MU's defense held Colorado to minus 14 yards rushing on 24 carries. The harassment of sophomore quarterback Tyler Hansen largely was the result of a blitz scheme devised to probe his inexperience. MU's defensive staff studied Hansen's "plus-minus ratio" of positive plays per number of rushers.

TIGER TALES

MU rushed for 184 yards on 45 carries, its second-highest total of the season (to 196 vs. Furman). ... Danario Alexander's 73-yard TD reception was the third of his career for 70 yards or more, matching Mel Gray's MU career record from 1968-70.