WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 8, 2016) -- Central Missouri racked up 455 yards of total offense as they rolled to a 36-16 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. The Mules are now 4-2 overall and in MIAA play this season.
It didn't take UCM long to seize control. The Mules stopped the Lopers (0-6) on a fourth and three at the UCM 36 on their first drive of the game.
Josh Powell came up with a sack to halt the drive and give the ball to UCM at their own 40. Eight plays and 60 yards later the Mules were in the end zone with a six-yard scoring strike from
Garrett Fugate to
Alex Strong.
Nebraska-Kearney got on the board on their next drive with a 35-yard Brendan Wentling field goal that capped off a 55-yard, 11-play drive. UCM resonded with a quick scoring drive to go in front 13-3. Fugate hit
Tyler Jones for a 36-yard gain on the second play of the drive and later found
Justus McMullen for a 35-yard touchdown on 4th and 2. The PAT was no good and the UCM lead was 10. It was McMullen's first reception since Dec. 6, 2014 at the Texarkana Bowl. He sat out all of last season with an injury.
The lead grew to 20-3 on UCM's next possession when Fugate and McMullen hooked up again. On 3rd and 9 at the UCM 33, Fugate found McMullen over the middle and he outraced everyone to the end zone for his second score of the game.
On the ensuing possession,
Jackson Newman picked off Steve Worthing on 3rd and 12, he intercepted the ball at the UNK 33 and took it all the way back for a pick-six and a 27-3 UCM lead. The Lopers added a 52-yard field goal from Wentling just before the half and UCM led 27-6 at the intermission.
The lead grew to 29-6 on the first possession of the second half. An errant snap on 3rd and 17 from their own six went into the end zone and was fallen on by UNK for a safety. The Mules returned the ensuing kickoff to the 50 and four plays later, Fugate found
Tyler Jones for a 23-yard score and the Mules were on top 36-6.
Wentling added a 38-yard field goal, his third of the game, late in the third quarter to pull UNK within 36-9 and they would add a nine-yard touchdown pass from Worthing to Blake Holtmeier midway through the fourth quarter for the 36-16 final.
The Mules finished with 154 yards on the ground and 301 through the air. Fugate was 15-of-22 for 297 yards and four scores. Jones had three catches for 79 yards with a touchdown, while McMullen had 102 yards and two touchdowns on two receptions.
Marquel McNac rushed for 44 yards on nine carries.
Newman led the UCM defense with 11 total tackles and the interception for a TD. As a unit, the Mule defense had 14 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Worthing finished the day 19-of-35 for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for a team-high 68 yards on 12 carries. Holtmeier had seven catches for 61 yards and score, while Austan Daniels added 58 yards on seven receptions.
Tyke Kozeal had 14 tackles to lead the Loper defense, including 1.5 tackles for loss. DJ Curtis had six stops and two TFL.
The Mules are back in action next Saturday night at Missouri Southern. Kickoff in Joplin is set for 6 p.m.
