Box Score (WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Central Missouri passing attack picked up where it left off last season and rolled to a 42-24 season-opening win over Missouri Southern in front of 9,147 fans at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field on Thursday night.
            Tommy Corwin tied the school and MIAA record with six touchdown passes on the night as the Mules racked up 452 yards in total offense.
            Central Missouri (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) went three-and-out on its first possession, but got the ball back in great field position thanks to a Marlon Douglas interception. The Mules went three-and-out and were forced to punt. Andrew Bergeson provided the big defensive play this time picking off a Collin Howard pass giving UCM the ball back at its own 36-yard line. The Mules were unable to move the ball offensively and were forced to punt for the third straight possession.
            Missouri Southern (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) took the ball on an 11-play, 66-yard drive capped by a Howard to Landon Zerkel six-yard TD pass to put the Lions in front 7-0, but that's when the UCM offense began to click.
            On the ensuing possession Corwin hooked up with Taylor Dyer on third and 18 for a 57-yard scoring strike to tie the game at 7-all. After the defense forced a three-and-out the Mules offense took one play, a 65-yard bomb from Corwin to Jamar Howard, to take the lead for a good at 14-7.
            The defense held on the next possession giving the ball back to the offense at its own 13-yard line. It took just five plays to go 87 yards capped off by a 37-yard Corwin to David Cannon pitch and catch and the Mules led 21-7 with 9:05 to play in the half.
            Another three-and-out forced the Lions to punt. A botched snap allowed Devin King to block the punt and give UCM the ball at the Missouri Southern 30-yard line. Two plays later Corwin hooked up with Dyer for the second time, this time an 18-yard hookup, and the lead was 28-7.
            The Lions went 58 yards in eight plays on the ensuing drive capped off by a Dallas Herndon 32-yard field goal to trim the lead to 28-10. The Mules gave up their only turnover of the night on the next possession setting MSSU up at the UCM 45 with under two minutes to play in the half. The Lions cashed in with a Howard to Ne'Ronte Threatt five-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 28-17 at the half.
            Missouri Southern got the ball to start the second half and appeared to be grabbing momentum with a 15-play, 59-yard drive, but Herndon's 38-yard field goal attempt was wide right. UCM took the ensuing possession 79 yards in eight plays as Corwin hooked up with Howard for the only score of the third quarter and the Mules led 35-17.
            The Lions drew to within 11 at 35-24 on an Anthony Westfield three-yard touchdown catch. The drive covered 80 yards in 13 plays and took 7:02 off the clock.
            The Lions forced a three-and-out to get the ball back, but Evan Knight recovered a fumble at midfield on the next possession to get the ball right back for UCM and the Mules cashed in. Corwin found Cannon from 10 yards out to give Central Missouri a 42-24 lead and essentially ice the game. MSSU drove to the UCM 10, but a sack and three straight incomplete passes turned the ball over on downs and the Mules were able to run out the clock.
            Corwin finished 22-of-34 for 397 yards and the record-tying six touchdowns. Cannon, Dyer and Howard had two touchdowns a piece with Howard gaining 134 yards on five catches.
            Defensively, Patrick Lewis led the Mules with 10 tackles, Adrian Perricone finished with nine and a sack, while Douglas, Bergeson and Knight had seven tackles each.
            Collin Howard finished 22-of-32 for 215 yards with three TD's and two interceptions for Missouri Southern and also led the team in rushing with 73 yards on 16 carries. MSSU rushed for 202 yards on 50 carries as a team.
            The Mules are back in action next Saturday night at Missouri Western at 6 p.m. The game is being broadcast on the MIAA TV network.