Mules' season comes to an end with first round playoff loss at Harding

SEARCY, Ark. (Nov. 19, 2016) -- The 20th-ranked Mules battled back-and-forth with fifth-ranked Harding for three quarters before running out of gas and falling on the road, 48-31, in the first round of the NCAA-II Playoffs. The Mules end their season at 9-3 overall with their first playoff appearance since 2010.

The Mules won the coin toss and chose to receive the kick. They took full advantage, driving 86 yards in 11 plays to grab a 7-0 lead. UCM converted two third downs on the drive and Garrett Fugate capped it off with a 13-yard touchdown run. Harding (12-0) responded with a 10-play, 68-yard drive to tie the score at 7-all. The UCM defense had the Bisons triple option offense in a 3rd and 9 at the UCM 33, but a 30-yard run set up HU with a first and goal at the UCM three yard line.

The Mules came right back with another touchdown drive to go back in front 14-7. Fugate went 4-for-4 on the drive for 89 yards, capping off the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Marquel McNac. Harding again answered the Mules with a score of their own on the next drive. Eric Simmons' two-yard touchdown run capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive that tied the game with 11:23 to play in the first half.

The first defensive stand of the game came on the next drive when Harding held UCM at the 12-yard line and forced a 29-yard Billy Greco field goal that gave UCM a 17-14 lead. For the third straight drive the Bisons matched the Mules' score with one of their own, this time it was another touchdown that gave HU a 21-17 lead with just over two minutes to play in the half. 

UCM went three and out on the ensuing drive, but the Bisons fumbled the UCM punt and the Mules recovered at the HU 26 with 1:19 to play in the half. Two plays later Fugate hit Jaylen Zachery for a 23-yard touchdown and the Mules led 24-21. Harding responded in a big way, returning the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and a 28-24 lead.

With just :29 to play in the half the Mules drove to the Harding 17 with just :08 to play. The Mules threw one pass to the endzone that fell incomplete with :01 on the clock. The Mules were penalized for holding on the play, however, and the ball was pushed back to the 27. Greco's 44-yard field goal try on the final play of the half was blocked and HU led 28-24 at the break.

The Mules got a big stop on the first drive of the second half and the offense took advantage, marching 59 yards in eight plays to regain the lead. Fugate hit Kyle Echols on 2nd and 12 for a 25-yard touchdown to put the Mules back in front 31-28.

Just as they did throughout the game, Harding answered the call. The Bisons needed just four plays to go 75 yards to regain the lead 35-31 on Simmons' 18-yard run. Following a UCM three and out, Harding added to the lead with another touchdown drive, this one covering 63 yards in six plays and the Bisons led 41-31 after the PAT was blocked by Josh Powell.

Each team had a turnover on their next possessions, but neither offense could capitalize. The Mules gave the ball back to HU at their own 14 following a 41-yard Logan Offner punt. Facing a 3rd and 5 at their own 19, Park Parish hit Andrew Dather for an 81-yard touchdown and the Bisons had the 48-31 final margin.

HU out-gained UCM 528-381 in the game, including 297-92 in the second half. 

Fugate finished the day 22-of-28 for 314 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for a score. He was UCM's leading rusher with just 29 yards on 12 carries. Zachery caught seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Seth Hebert had five catches for 72 yards as did Echols, who also had a touchdown.

Defensively, Tevin Teamer led the Mules with a career-high 18 tackles and a forced fumble. Monteze Latimore finished with 10 tackles.



Parish led HU with 118 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while completing 6-of-7 passes for 173 yards and a score. Simmons had 91 yards and two scores on seven carries. Dather caught four passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Frank Herbert and Daylan Skidmore each finished with eight tackles to lead Harding. Skidmore also had two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Fugate finished the season with 271 completions, third most all-time for a season at UCM. His 3,655 passing yards and 31 touchdown passes this season are also the third best. His 4,112 yards of total offense this year are the second most all-time. For his career, Fugate finishes his career with the fifth most completions (463), fourth most passing yards (6,314), passing touchdowns (49), and the third most yards of total offense (7,519).

Zachery's 67 pass receptions this season are the sixth most in a single season in program history, while his 11 touchdown receptions are tied for the fourth most. His 1,828 all-purpose yards are the fifth most in a single-season. With one season of eligibility remaining, Zachery ranks sixth in receiving yards (1,915),  tied for seventh in touchdown receptions (16), tied for eighth in receptions (122) and ninth in all-purpose yards (3,420).

The Mules' 9-3 season is the 10th straight winning season in program history and the 18th in the last 19 years. This was the first playoff appearance since 2010 and the third in school history. This was the Mules' ninth postseason appearance overall, counting postseason bowl games and playoff appearances, and the fourth in head coach Jim Svoboda's seven seasons.