KICKOFF
• The 13th/6th-ranked Mules return home for a Family Weekend showdown with Emporia State. Kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 24 is set for 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
• The Mules rallied for a thrilling 38-34 win at Missouri Western on Saturday night to improve to 3-0 for the first time since the 2009 season.
• Emporia State is 2-1 on the season after a 49-21 win over Missouri Southern on Saturday in Emporia. The Hornets have won back-to-back games after a season-opening loss.
• The Mules will be looking to get back into the win column against the Hornets after ESU snapped UCM's 13-game winning streak in the series last year.
• Emporia State was 11-3 last season, finishing in second place in the MIAA and advancing to the NCAA-II Quarterfinals.
• UCM was picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. Emporia State was picked in a tie for third in the coaches' poll and fourth in the media poll.
COACH TO CURE MD
• The UCM coaching staff will be wearing Coach to Cure MD logo patches on the sidelines of Saturday's game. The Coach to Cure MD program is now in its ninth year and has raised more than $1.25 million to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
• Fans can text the word CURE to 90999 to donate $5.
• For more information on Coach to Cure MD, go to www.CoachToCureMD.org.
ON THE AIR
• The game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action. The SPIN! Pizza/Bob Showers of Ameritas Financial Tailgate Show will begin at 11:50 a.m. on the UCM Sports Network.
• The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's Stretch Internet portal at UCMathletics.com/gamecentral. It is a pay-per-view webcast.
STORY LINES
• The Mules will play six of their 11 regular season games at home this season. It is just the second time in the last seven seasons that UCM will play more home games than road games.
• The Mules went 8-3 overall last season and finished in a tie for third place in the MIAA standing.
• The Mules were second in the MIAA in total offense and third in the league total defense in 2015.
• The Mules had their ninth straight winning season in 2015. It was the 17th winning season in the last 18 years for UCM.
MULES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• The Mules appear in both Division II polls. UCM is ranked No. 13 in the AFCA Poll, moving up one spot this week. UCM stayed put at No. 6 in this week's D2Football.com poll.
• Under head coach
Jim Svoboda the Mules have been ranked in the AFCA Poll 24 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of five times.
SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the 62nd all-time meeting between Central Missouri and Emporia State with the Mules holding a 39-18-4 lead.
• The Hornets won last year's meeting 45-34 in Emporia to snap a 13-game UCM winning streak in the series.
• UCM leads the series 15-4 in games played in Warrensburg since 1966.
• The Mules are 3-1 against ESU under
Jim Svoboda, while the Hornets are 1-6 against the Mules under Garin Higgins.
LAST MEETING WITH EMPORIA STATE
• Emporia State outscored the Mules 42-20 after the first quarter to rally for a 45-34 win in Emporia. The game started on Thursday night, Sept. 10, but was delayed at halftime due to lightning and wasn't resumed until Saturday.
• The Mules jumped out to a 14-3 lead on a 39-yard
Garrett Fugate touchdown run and a one-yard run by
Evan Campbell.
• A 65-yard touchdown from Fugate to
Jaylen Zachery gave the Mules a 21-10 lead with just under seven minutes to play in the first half, but the Hornets scored a pair of touchdowns to tie the game 24-all at the intermission.
• UCM led 31-24 midway through the third quarter, but Emporia State outscored UCM 21-3 the rest of the way.
• Fugate finished with 484 yards of total offense out of UCM's 565 for the game. He threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 113 and a score.
• The Hornets had 605 yards of total offense, 446 through the air and 159 on the ground. Brent Wilson was 35-of-46 passing for 446 yards and five touchdowns. Mitchell Foote cuahgt eight passes for 94 yards and a score, while Justin Brown (7-130-2) and Kavaski Ervin (7-100-1) each went over 100 yards receiving with at least one TD.
•
Jackson Newman led UCM with eight tackles, while Kole Schankie finished with 10 tackles and a sack for ESU.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
• Emporia State enters the game at 2-1 overall after a 49-21 win over Missouri Southern last Saturday. ESU has won two straight after dropping the season opener, 41-14, to Northwest Missouri.
• The Hornets are sixth in the MIAA in scoring offense (32.3 ppg) and third in scoring defense (23.0 ppg). They rank ninth in total offense (383.3 ypg) and fifth in total defense (397.7 ypg), ninth in rushing (141.7 ypg) and fourth in rushing defense (131.3 ypg), eighth in passing (241.7 ypg) and eighth in pass defense (266.3 ypg).
• Braxton Marstall is completing 64 percent of his passes for 204.7 yards per game. He's thrown six touchdowns and just one interception. He also leads the team in rushing with 130 yards on 28 carries for 43.3 yards per game.
• Landon Nault and Antonio Brown have both scored two rushing touchdowns and are averaging 4.1 and 5.6 yards per carry, respectively.
• Mitchell Foote has 15 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while Justin Brown has 14 catches for 137 yards and three scores.
• Defensively, ESU has registered 18 tackles for loss, seven sacks and five interceptions through three games. They also have six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
• Kole Schankie leads the team with 18 total tackles and two interceptions. Josh Monteagudo has 14 tackles and a quarterback sack.
• Tre'Vaun Ammons leads the team with three tackles for loss, but 14 different players have recorded at least a half a tackle for loss.
LAST TIME OUT
•
Garrett Fugate hit
Jaylen Zachery for a 23-yard touchdown to cap a 98-yard drive to push the 14th-ranked Mules past Missouri Western 38-34 last Saturday night in St. Joseph.
• The Mules improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2009.
• Zachery finished the day with 296 all-purpose yards after catching eight passes for 131 yards and a touchdown and returning four kickoffs for 165 yards, including a 94-yard touchdown return on the game's opening kickoff. His 296 all-purpose yards are tied for fifth most in a single game in program history.
•
Gabe Vandiver rushed 12 times for 84 yards and a touchdown, while
Xavier Washpun added 62 yards and a score on 12 carries in addition to five receptions for 46 yards and a score.
• Fugate finished the game 32-of-43 for a career-high 408 yards and two touchdowns. His 408 passing yards are the eighth highest single-game total in UCM history.
• UCM had 538 yards in total offense to 489 for the Griffons.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules are 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2010 season after the 38-34 win at Missouri Western last Saturday.
• UCM was 8-3 in MIAA play last season and now stands at 43-19 in conference games under
Jim Svoboda. The third best conference record during that span behind NWMSU and MWSU.
THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules are 1-0 at home this year and 25-8 at home under
Jim Svoboda.
• The Mules are 230-182-13 overall in their 86th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri is 24-13 in road games during the
Jim Svoboda era after winning at Missouri Western on Saturday, Sept. 17.
WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
• The Mules improved to 41-7 during the
Jim Svoboda era when leading at halftime after holding off Missouri Western in St. Joseph.
• The Mules are 7-14 under Svoboda when trailing at halftime after rallying from a 13-7 intermission deficit at Pittsburg State.
21 AND UP
• UCM is 48-10 under
Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 48-4 during the Svoboda era and 27-1 when scoring 40 or more points.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• With
Jaylen Zachery's 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game at Missouri Western, the Mules extended their MIAA record streak of consecutive games without being shutout to 274.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.
PLAYING CLEAN
• Through the first three games, UCM is the least penalized team in the MIAA with 11 penalties for 117 yards. The Mules' opponents are the third most penalized with 23 for 205 yards.
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY
• The Mules are 12-of-14 (86%) in the red zone this season, scoring nine touchdowns and kicking three field goals.
• UCM was 4-for-5 in the red zone against Missouri Western, scoring three TDs and kicking one field goal.
• Opponents are 10-for-12 (83%) in the red zone against UCM, scoring eight touchdowns and kicking two field goals.
TURNOVER MARGIN
• The Mules were second in the MIAA and 13th nationally in turnover margin last year at +12. Through three games this season, the Mules are -3 in turnover margin. UCM has thrown two interceptions and given up five fumbles, while intercepting three passes and recovering one fumble.
MIAA LEADERS
•
Garrett Fugate leads the MIAA in passing, averaging 332.0 yards per game. He has completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 996 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. His 150.8 pass efficiency rating is third best in the league.
•
Gabe Vandiver is sixth in the league averaging 67.0 yards per game rushing.
•
Jaylen Zachery is tied for fifth in the MIAA in receiving at 87.7 yards per game. His 17 catches are tied for sixth most in the league and his 263 yards are tied for fifth most, his four touchdowns are second most. He also leads the league in scoring with six total touchdowns and in kick returns (28.2 ypr) and punt returns (19.2 ypr).
•
Tyler Jones is sixth at 27.0 yards per game with seven catches for 189 yards.
•
Michael Tannehill is tied for ninth in the MIAA in tackles with 26.
•
Jack Cronin and
Wyatt Hendrix are tied for eighth with three tackles for loss through two games. Hendrix's two sacks are tied for the third most.
A WIN OVER EMPORIA STATE WOULD...
• Give UCM a 4-0 start for the first time under
Jim Svoboda and the first time since the 2009 season and the 16th time in program history.
• Give the Mules five straight home wins overall and eight straight home wins against the Hornets.
• Give UCM a 40-18-4 lead in the all-time series with Emporia State and wins in 14 of the last 15 meetings.
A LOSS TO EMPORIA STATE WOULD...
• Give the Hornets back-to-back wins over UCM for the first time since they won four straight between 1996-99.
• Pull ESU within 39-19-4 in the all-time series.
• Snap UCM's seven-game home winning streak against the Hornets.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120th season of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 545-505-51 (.518) record in 1,101 total games.
• The Mules have won 10 or more games three times in the history of the program and have posted 12 seasons of eight or more wins.
• UCM won a school-record 11 games in
Jim Svoboda's first season in 2010.
• UCM has won or shared 12 MIAA championships in school history with the last coming in 2003.
• The Mules have qualified for the postseason eight times in their history, including two trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs, the last coming in 2010.
SVOBODA AT THE HELM
• Central Missouri head coach
Jim Svoboda has a record of 50-22 (.694) in his seventh season leading the Mules. He has led the Mules to three postseason appearances.
• He is third on UCM's career wins list.
• Svoboda's .681 winning percentage entering the 2016 season is the fourth highest for a UCM coach.
• UCM posted the second most wins in a two-year span in school history in Svoboda's first two seasons.
• The Mules appeared in the postseason in each of Svoboda's first two seasons. UCM made the NCAA-II Playoffs in year one under Svoboda and earned a bid to the Kanza Bowl in his second season. It is just the second time in school history that Mules Football has made back-to-back postseason appearances.
• UCM hosted the first ever playoff game in school history and won the school's first two playoff games in Svoboda's first season in 2010.
• The Mules have set or tied 83 school offensive records and 21 MIAA offensive records during Svoboda's tenure.
• The Mules became the first team in NCAA-II history to have a 5,000-yard passer (Eric Czerniewski) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Anthony Stewart) in the same season when they accomplished that feat in 2010.
MULES IN THE PROS
• There is one former Mule currently on an NFL roster. Tight end Delanie Walker is about to start his 11th season in the league and his fourth with the Tennessee Titans. Walker signed a four-year deal with the Titans after playing in Super Bowl XLVII with San Francisco.
• He caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee's 16-15 come from behind win at Detroit on Sunday.
• Walker has 349 catches for 4,139 yards with 25 touchdowns in his career. Last year, he caught 94 passes for 1,088 yards and six touchdowns and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
• Walker was inducted into the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2015.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Central Missouri has won a combined 207 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured two MIAA regular season titles, three MIAA Tournament crowns and three NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 153 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won eight national championships during Hughes' tenure (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, and women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015) and 10 national championships overall.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 232 student-athletes named to the 2015-16 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 28 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned all-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 19 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had seven student-athletes earn Academic All-Region awards in their respective sports with four of those earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
• Since the year 2000, UCM is sixth in NCAA-II with 53 Academic All-Americans.
• Two UCM student-athletes were awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.
MULES FOOTBALL ON THE AIR
• The Bob Showers of Ameritas Investment Corp.
Jim Svoboda Mules Football Radio Show, Live from Traditions Restaurant airs on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. on 98.5 The Bar and 1450 KOKO as well as online at warrensburgradio.com.
• The show is broadcast live from the patio at Traditions Restaurant at the Audrey J. Walton Clubhouse at Mules National Golf Club.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
• Live video coverage for all Central Missouri home and away MIAA games will be available through Stretch Internet on a pay-per-view basis.
• Fans can access webcasts by going to UCMathletics.com/gamecentral or by clicking on the links located on the Mules Football schedule page.
UP NEXT
• The Mules head to Arrowhead Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 1 for a date with Northwest Missouri. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
• The UCM Alumni Foundation Tailgate will run from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Founder's Club at Arrowhead Stadium.
