WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Central Missouri racked up a school record 705 yards of total offense in a 54-10 blowout win over Missouri Southern in front of 10,477 fans on Family Weekend at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. UCM had 335 yards on the ground and 370 through the air.
The Mules (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) got the scoring started on a
Jordan Keeney one-yard plunge with 9:35 to go in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by a 52-yard
Garrett Fugate to
Alex Strong pass that gave UCM a first and goal at the one on the first play of the drive.
The Mules exploded in the second quarter for 24 points to blow the game open. On UCM's second play of the quarter, Fugate hit a wide open
Jaylen Zachery for a 57-yard touchdown strike to put the Mules in front 14-0. Following a Southern (1-4, 1-4 MIAA) three and out, the Mules went on a nine-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a
Rodney Smith two-yard touchdown run, his first as a Mule and the lead was 21-0.
Following another three and out the Mules put more points on the board with a
Billy Greco 30-yard field goal to make it 24-0.
The Mules drove deep into Lion territory late in the first half, but Fugate was picked off in the end zone by Johnquavious McBride to halt the drive. However, on Southern's first play following the turnover,
Monteze Latimore picked off a Kyle Keller pass and returned it to the Lion 25 yard line with :31 left. Two plays later, Fugate hit
Josh Pickrell for an 18-yard score and the Mules led 31-0 at halftime.
UCM took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 75 yards in eight plays to push the lead to 38-0.
Markel Smith scored from three-yards out to cap the drive. The Mules' defense forced another three and out from the Lions and UCM poured it on. Fugate got into the run scoring action with a seven-yard run of his own to make it 45-0 still with 10:46 to play in the third quarter.
The lead ballooned to 52-0 on an
Eric Siebenshuh eight-yard scamper before the Lions finally got on the board with a 22-yard Brock Renken field goal to make it 52-3 with 2:57 to play in the third.
Anthony Saputo recorded a safety early in the fourth quarter to make it 54-3 before the Lions added a late score for the 54-10 final.
Fugate finished the game with 448 yards of total offense, the fourth highest single-game total in school history. He was 21-of-29 for 343 yards and two touchdowns through the air and also rushed for 105 yards and a score.
Markel Smith added 74 yards on 17 carries with a score as the Mules racked up five rushing touchdowns.
Alex Strong had a team-high five catches for 113 yards, while Zachery caught four balls for a game-high 127 yards and a score. Eleven different UCM receivers caught passes.
Alex Lackey and
TuiSamoa Magalei led the UCM defense with six tackles apiece. The unit held the Lions to 304 yards of offense and just 75 on the ground.
Keller finished the game 18-of-36 for 188 yards with a score and an interception for MSSU. Defensively, the Lions were led by McBride's nine tackles and interception. Dominick Bell also finished with nine tackles and a tackle for loss.
The Mules return to action next Saturday at Washburn. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Yager Stadium for the MIAA Television Game of the Week. The game can also be heard live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler on the call. The Mules Tailgate Show will go on the air at 1:20 p.m.
