WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 22, 2016) -- The Mules racked up 470 yards of total offense and
Monteze Latimore came up with the game-clinching interception as the Mules held off Washburn 29-27 in front of a Homecoming crowd of 9,138 at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
The Mules (6-2, 6-2 MIAA) got on the board first in what was a high-scoring first half.
Marquel McNac opened the scoring with a six-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. The Ichabods (5-3, 5-3 MIAA) answered with a 22-yard field goal from Perry Schmiedeler to cut the lead to 7-3 with just under four minutes left in the opening quarter.
UCM tacked on another score late in the first quarter when
Garrett Fugate hit
Wesley Thomas for a 13-yard touchdown. UCM was called for holding on the initial PAT and the second attempt was blocked and the Mules led 13-3 after one quarter. The Mules out-gained the Ichabods 201-85 in the period.
Derek McGinnis scored on a two-yard run early in the second quarter to pull Washburn within 13-10, but the Mules quick-strike offense answered right back. Fugate found McNac for a 37-yard touchdown on the fifth play of the drive and the UCM lead was 20-10.
The Mules were driving deep in Washburn territory on their next possession, but Derrick McGreevy forced a fumble and Peter Pfannenstiel returned it 42 yards to the UCM 36. Two plays later, Mickeel Stewart carried it in from five yards out and it was 20-17.
Jaylen Zachery had a 35-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to set the Mules up at the Washburn 48 to start the drive. UCM drove to the Washburn 31, where the Mules faced a fourth and three. Fugate was able to elude a blitzing linebacker and found a wide-open
Seth Hebert for a 31-yard touchdown and the Mules led 26-17.
The Ichabods came right back with another scoring drive of their own on the next possession. The 'Bods drove to the UCM 24, where they faced a fourth and six with six seconds left in the half. McGinnis' pass was intercepted at the four by
Kolesen Crane, but the Mules were flagged for offsides, giving Washburn one untimed down to end the half. Schmiedeler drilled a 36-yard field goal and it was 26-20 at halftime.
As high scoring as the first half was, the defenses controlled the second half as the teams combined for 10 points. The Mules struck first with a 26-yard
Billy Greco fourth quarter field goal to go up 29-20 with 13:42 to play in the game.
Josh Wright returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards to the UCM 20. Aided by a personal foul penalty against Washburn the Mule defense had the Ichabods facing a third and three from the 18 yard line. Chris McGee, Jr. was wrapped up in the backfield, but was able to spin away from a defender and reverse his field all the way across the field and in to the end zone for a touchdown. It pulled Washburn to within 29-27 with 12:06 to play in the game.
The Mules went three and out on their next drive and gave the ball back to WU. They converted a third and four at the UCM 34 and then faced a third and six at the 30, McGinnis' pass was incomplete and Schmiedeler came on to attempt a career-long 47 yard field goal. It hit the cross bar and bounced back and UCM still led by a pair.
After forcing another UCM punt, the Ichabods got the ball back with 3:32 to play at their own 10. Two runs and an incomplete pass later it was fourth and six at their own 14. Washburn elected to go for it, but the pass was incomplete as
Jackson Newman was able to dive in front of the receiver and knock the ball away and the Mules took over.
On the second play of the next drive, Fugate ran for what appeared to be a 15-yard touchdown, but UCM was whistled for holding and backed up to the 20. The Ichabods were out of timeouts and the Mules faced a third and nine at the 13. Fugate's pass was incomplete and Greco's 30-yard field goal missed wide right.
On their final possession, the Ichabos were in third and long at the 37 yard line when McGinnis was picked off by
Monteze Latimore to seal the win for the Mules.
Fugate finished the day 28-of-41 for 357 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 30 yards rushing. McNac had 10 carries for 50 yards and a score, while also catching two passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. Hebert had a career-high nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and
Jaylen Zachery added seven catches for 72 yards.
Tevin Teamer led the UCM defense with 10 tackles and three pass breakups as the Mules held WU to 344 total yards. Latimore had seven tackles and an interception, while
Dalainey Taala had four total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
McGinnis finished the game 15-of-33 for 214 yards and an interception for Washburn. McGee, Jr. had 57 yards rushing and a touchdown on eight carries. Bryce Chavis caught seven passes for 99 yards.
Austin Tillman led the WU defense with 11 stops, while Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
The Mules return to action next Saturday hosting Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
