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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Missouri Western turned a late interception into the game-winning touchdown to defeat Central Missouri 10-9 in the season-opener on Thursday night at Spratt Stadium. The Mules out-gained the Griffons 459-273, but missed opportunities loomed large for UCM in the fourth straight defeat to the Griffons.

The Mules (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) had an early scoring opportunity as they drove 71 yards to the Griffon 10, highlighted by a 48-yard scamper by Ray Harris, but on on second and two at the 10 LaVance Taylor was stripped and the Griffons (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) recovered at their own nine yard line.

UCM had another golden opportunity late in the first quarter when Tevin Teamer picked off a TJ LaFaver pass near midfield, but the Mules went backwards on offense and were forced to punt. Ricky Spratley then picked off the first pass of the ensuing possession giving the Mules great field position at the Griffon 35. Central Missouri drove to the MWSU nine yard line where the drive stalled. The Mules attempted a 26 yard field goal, but it sailed wide left.

UCM finally broke through midway through the second quarter. On third and two, Taylor broke through the line and rushed 47 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked, however, when Michael Jordan came untouched around the left corner for Missouri Western. The Mules would take that 6-0 lead into halftime.

The teams traded punts out of the gate in the second half. After a Hayden Hawk punt was downed at the one-yard line, the Griffons drove 84 yards in 12 plays capped by a John Schmiemeier 34-yard field goal to pull the Griffons within 6-3.

On their second drive of the fourth quarter the Mules went from their own 20 down to the Griffon 12, but Hawk's third down pass was batted away and UCM was forced to attempt a field goal. Will Mondragon booted it in from 28 yards out to extend the Mule lead to 9-3 with 8:03 to play in the game.

The Griffons drove the ensuing possesion inside the UCM 30, but a personal foul penalty pushed them out of field goal range and they were forced to punt. On the ensuing possession the Mules rushed for a loss of a yard and then Hawk was sacked back at his own 12 yard line. Facing third and 18, the Mules tried to set up a screen pass, but Arbanas Elliot picked it off and returned the ball to the UCM five. Three plays later Raphael Spencer rushed it in from three yards out to give Missouri Western a 10-9 lead.

The Mules got the ball back with 1:23 on the clock and were able to drive to the Griffon 34. On second and 15 Hawk found Tristan McClelland over the middle, but he wasn't able to get out of bounds in time and the game was over.

The Mules finished with 23 first downs and 459 yards of total offense compared to 14 first downs and 273 yards for Missouri Western. The Mules rushed for 245 yards and passed for 214, while holding MWSU to 171 yards on the ground and just 102 through the air.

Hawk finished the day 23-of-40 for 214 yards with an interception. Taylor rushed for 119 yards on 17 carries and also had seven receptions for 85 yards.

Spencer finished the day with 162 yards on 31 carries for the Griffons, while LaFaver and Skyler Windmiller combined to go 10-of-25 for 102 yards and three interceptions.

The Mules return to action next Thursday, hosting Emporia State at 7 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler and Bill Turnage on the call. A pay-per-view, student-run webcast through the UCM Media Network can be accessed through UCM's Stretch Internet Game Central 2.0 portal. Thursday is also Get the Red Out with the annual street fair going from 4-6:30 p.m. on Holden Street between South and Clark Streets.