TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Nov. 5, 2016) – The 25th-ranked Mules racked up 434 yards of total offense and scored two defensive touchdowns in a 59-21 rout of Northeastern State on Saturday at Doc Wadley Stadium.
The defense provided the first spark of the day for the Mules (8-2). After a pair of three and outs on offense, the RiverHawks (2-8) had a 2
nd and 7 at the UCM 43 yard line, but Dimonic McKinzy was intercepted by
Kolesen Crane, who returned it 66 yards for a score to put UCM in front 7-0.
The defense came up big again two possessions later. NSU intercepted a UCM pass and returned it to the Mule 25, but the defense forced a three and out and
Diaron Rhodes blocked the 43-yard field goal try and the Mules took over.
The Mules found the endzone on the ensuing possession. Facing a 4
th and 5 from the RiverHawk 39,
Garrett Fugate eluded pressure a fired a bullet to
Jaylen Zachery for a 39-yard touchdown to put the Mules up 14-0. The lead grew to 21-0 on the next NSU drive when Rhodes picked off McKinzy on a tipped pass and returned it 75 yards for a score.
Billy Greco added a 39-yard field goal on the next drive and the Mules led 24-0. The lead grew to 31-0 at halftime when Fugate hit Zachery for an eight-yard touchdown. The big play on the drive was a 42-yard completion to
Kyle Echols down to the RiverHawk 22.
Fugate rushed for a five-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half and the Mules led 38-0. The run capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive.
The RiverHawks broke the shutout on their next drive, scoring on a 20-yard pass from McKinzy to Gary McKnight to make it 38-7.
Fugate hit
Wesley Thomas for a two-yard score late in the third quarter and it was 45-7 in favor of UCM.
Northeastern State scored on a four-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to get in to double figures, but Zachery returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and the Mules led 52-14.
McKinzy hit McKnight for a 50-yard score to make it 52-21 before
Marquel McNac finished off the scoring with a five-yard scoring plunge to give UCM the 59-21 final.
The Mules out-gained the RiverHawks 434-289 in the game. Zachery finished with 222 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Fugate was 16-of-28 for 252 yards and three passing touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Echols caught five passes for a career-high 132 yards.
Defensively,
Jackson Newman led UCM with 11 tackles.
Dylan Albertson had seven stops and a tackle for loss, while
J.R. Alexander had 3.5 tackles for loss and a career-high three sacks.
McKinzy finished 18-of-42 for 236 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. McKnight had five catches for 99 yards and two scores. Kenneth Davis led the RiverHawks with 17 total tackles and 12 solo stops.
The Mules return home for the regular season finale next Saturday, Nov. 12 against Lindenwood. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Senior Day. The Mules' seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
