COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, as the Cyclones dropped their third straight on the season 52-17 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.

The lowdown

The Tigers offense got off to its fastest start of the season, capitalizing on a 43-yard kick return to open the game, scoring eight plays and 2:57 later on a one-yard touchdown run by Missouri quarterback James Franklin.

Iowa State’s first drive ended on the third play when quarterback Steele Jantz fumbled the ball at the ISU 37-yard line. Missouri took over and punched it in six plays later with a Henry Josey one-yard touchdown run, giving the Tigers a 14-0 lead just six minutes into the game.

The Cyclones answered on their next drive with a 26-yard Zach Guyer field goal as their 12-play, 64-yard drive stalled at the Missouri 8-yard line.

Missouri made it three touchdowns on their first three drives as Franklin found tight end Michael Egnew coming across the middle of the field. After avoiding a pair of ISU defenders, Egnew raced to the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown.

Iowa State drove the ball into Missouri territory but failed to convert on a fourth-down-and-4 as Jantz was sacked at the Missouri 29. Eight plays later, the Tigers celebrated their fourth touchdown on the day, a two-yard score by running back Kendial Lawrence.

The turnover bug bit Jantz for the second time as the ball slipped out of his right hand as he cocked his arm to throw. Missouri linebacker Luke Lambert recovered the ball on the Iowa State 27-yard line. However, on the next play, linebacker A.J. Klein jumped a route by a Missouri receiver, intercepting Franklin and taking the ball 78 yards the other way for a score.

Franklin was intercepted again in ISU territory on the next Missouri drive as linebacker Jake Knott picked off the fifth pass of his career at the ISU 38-yard line. Unfortunately for Iowa State, it was unable to convert that turnover and a Missouri fumble into points as the Tigers added a field goal to increase their halftime lead to 31-10.

A score to start the second half would have helped the Cyclones, but they were forced to punt after six plays, giving the ball to Franklin and the Missouri offense. Josey started the Missouri drive with a 26-yard scamper that, after a facemask penalty on ISU cornerback Leonard Johnson, brought the Tigers to the ISU 41-yard line. Eight plays later, Franklin found wide receiver T.J. Moe in the corner of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown.

Franklin added another one-yard rushing touchdown with 5:01 remaining in the third, and found wide receiver Wes Kemp for a six-yard touchdown 17 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Backup quarterback redshirt freshman Jared Barnett took over for the Cyclones in the fourth quarter, throwing an interception on his first play. Barnett finished the game 3-of-8 passing for 25 yards and 24 yards rushing on four carries. Sophomore running back Jeff Woody added a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, his first of the season.

Turning point

Down 28-10, ISU linebacker Jake Knott intercepted a Franklin pass at the ISU 25-yard line, giving the Cyclones the ball with 8:07 remaining in the first half. Iowa State gained a pair of first downs, including a fourth-and-1 at their own 34-yard line, but the Cyclones were unable to convert on a first down once they entered Missouri territory and were forced to punt.

The Cyclones had another opportunity to score after recovering a Missouri fumble at the ISU 43, but they went three-and-out, giving the Tigers the ball with 1:39 remaining. Missouri drove the ball 75 yards on eight plays and kicked a field goal as time expired to take a 31-10 halftime lead.

X factor

Missouri RB – Henry Josey

The Big 12’s leading rusher gashed the ISU defense for 134 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Josey, a sophomore, was the leading rusher for a Missouri rushing attack that totaled 294 yards on 58 carries against the Cyclones.

“He’s got some quicks. He touches the football, he’s a difference guy and he’s a young player,” said Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. “Boy you just have to give him a little seam and with his acceleration he’s really a very impressive guy.”

The Angleton, Tex., native also did damage in the return game, putting the Tigers at the 50-yard line to start the game after a 43-yard return.

By the numbers

0– penalties committed by Missouri. That marks the first time that the Tigers did not commit a single penalty since December 31, 2009 against Navy.

2-15 – Iowa State’s record since 2009 when allowing more than 24 points.

3 – career defensive touchdowns scored by Klein, tying Brent “Big Play” Curvey for the most defensive touchdowns for a player in ISU history. It was also Klein’s third interception return for a touchdown, a school record.

12-tackles for Klein, his first double-digit tackle output of the season and eighth of his career.

52 – points scored by Missouri, the most allowed by the Cyclones this season and most points since losing to Oklahoma 52-0 in 2010

54-10 – combined scoring deficit for Iowa State in the first quarter this season. The Cyclones trailed Missouri 21-3 at the end of the first quarter on Saturday.

182 – yards receiving by Missouri tight end Michael Egnew. In his last two games against Iowa State, Egnew caught 13 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Up next for Iowa State

The Cyclones (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) will host the Texas A&M Aggies at Jack Trice Stadium at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday. The No. 21 Aggies (4-2, 2-1) took down No. 20 Baylor 55-28 at home Saturday. This will be the final time the two teams will compete in Big 12 Conference play as the Aggies will move to the Southeastern Conference in 2012.

“Throughout most of the season before (Texas A&M) lost to very, very good football teams, they were a top 10 team in the country, we’re going to have to be considerably better,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads.