WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Mules scored 31 unanswered points to break open a close game and roll to a 54-10 win over Northeastern State on Saturday afternoon at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. The Homecoming win in front of 8,279 fans improved UCM's record to 6-2 on the season and gave the Mules their fifth straight win.
The Mules struck first with a three-yard
Markel Smith touchdown run on their first drive of the game, one of two touchdowns on the day for Smith, to lead 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
Monteze Latimore picked off a Kevin Pantastico pass on the next drive and the Mules turned that in to three points on a
Billy Greco 37-yard field goal to lead 10-0 with 5:03 to go first quarter.
The RiverHawks (2-6, 2-6 MIAA) struck quick on their next possession. Following a 55-yard kickoff return, Pantastico hit Garrett Powell for a 39-yard touchdown pass and the RiverHawks pulled to within 10-7.
The Mules wasted no time in extending the lead back to 10. Scoring on the next drive on a
Garrett Fugate to
Ian Toalson 25-yard touchdown to make it 17-7. UCM went with a surprise onside kick following the touchdown and
Clayton Cooper recovered at the NSU 49. Facing a fourth and five at the NSU 31, Fugate found Smith in the flat, he made the first man miss and out-ran the rest of the RiverHawk defense to the endzone and UCM led 24-7.
Two drives later, following a three and out that ended with a
Jason Venckus sack, the Mules struck again.
Jaylen Zachery returned Garrett Powell's punt 79 yards to the house and the lead was 31-7
UCM tacked on three more points with a 20-yard Greco field goal and the lead was 34-7 at the intermission. The lead grew to 41-7 early in the third quarter when
Eric Siebenshuh got in on the action with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Toalson, his second of the game.
The RiverHawks made it 41-10 late in the third quarter on a 27-yard Eddie Garcia field goal. NSU had the ball at the UCM 10 yard line following a fumble, but the Mule defense kept them out of the endzone.
The Mules capped the scoring with back to back touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. On the first, Siebenshuh hit
Alex Strong for an eight-yard score on third and goal.
Brook Bolles then found
Josh Pickrell for a two-yard scoring strike on fourth and goal from the two and the Mules had their 54-10 margin of victory.
The Mules' balanced offensive attack racked up 607 yards of total offense, 306 on the ground and 301 through the air.
Markel Smith led the way rushing with 148 yards and a TD on 21 carries. He also had the one reception for 31 yards and a score.
Brook Bolles had four rushes for 73 yards and
Rodney Smith totaled 47 yards on 11 carries.
Garrett Fugate was 14-of-20 passing for 207 yards and two scores, while
Eric Siebenshuh went 6-of-8 for 92 yards with two scores and one interception. R. Smith had a team-high five catches for 33 yards.
Jaylen Zachery totaled 73 yards on four receptions, while Toalson had four catches for 72 yards and his two scores.
Austin Miller and
Manuel Cole finished with eight tackles apiece to lead the UCM defense. Miller added a tackle for loss, sack, an interception and a pass breakup.
Jason Venckus had four tackles, but two went for a loss including a sack. As a unit, the Mules held NSU to 218 yards of total offense, 55 on the ground and 163 through the air.
Pantastico was 10-of-17 for 147 yards with a score and two interceptions before being replaced by Thor Long, who went 1-of-5 for 16 yards and two interceptions. Joel Rockmore was held to 61 yards on 15 carries. Garrett Powell had 73 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
Devon Siers led the NSU defense with 10 tackles, while Quincy Dotson had three sacks.
The Mules are back on the road next weekend at Lindenwood. Game time on Saturday, Oct. 31 is set for 1:30 p.m. at Harlen C. Hunter Stadium in St. Charles. The game can be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler on the call.
