WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Sept. 24, 2016) -- 13th-ranked Mules Football rallied from a 17-7 fourth quarter deficit to take a late lead, but eventually fell in double overtime, 37-31, to Emporia State on Saturday afternoon at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
The Mules trailed 17-7 entering the fourth quarter, but
Monteze Latimore returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown to pull UCM (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) within three and
Garrett Fugate hit
Jaylen Zachery for a four-yard touchdown pass with 9:28 to play to put the Mules in front 21-17.
UCM was driving late for what would have been the clinching touchdown, but on third and two from the Emporia State (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) four-yard line, Fugate was intercepted by Kole Schankie, who brought the ball all the way out to the ESU 49. Seven plays later, Antonio Brown scored from a yard out to give ESU a 24-21 lead with :36 to play.
On the ensuing possession the Mules traveled 45 yards in just five plays to set up
Billy Greco for a game-tying 34-yard field goal with :07 left. That sent the game in to overtime.
In the first overtime, the Hornets converted a 4th and 1 from the UCM 16 to extend the drive. Four plays later, Braxton Marstall rushed it in from two yards out to put the Hornets in front 31-24. UCM's possession took just one play as Fugate hit
Seth Hebert for a 25-yard touchdown to force the second overtime.
In the second OT, Fugate hit
Kyle Echols for a 20-yard gain on first down to the five. After a rush for a three-yard loss and an incomplete pass, Fugate lofted a ball to the corner of the end zone, but it was tipped an intercepted. On the second play of the ensuing possession, Marstall hit Mitchell Foote for a 20-yard TD for the win.
The Hornets staked themselves to a 7-0 lead on the second drive of the game when Brown scored on an eight-yard run to cap a 10-play, 57-yard drive. UCM tied the game early in the second on
Marquel McNac's 12-yard scoring run.
ESU went back in front late in the first half on Austin Morton's 32-yard field goal. The Mules were driving late in the half, but Fugate's pass intended for
Tyler Jones was intercepted at the Hornet two yard line and ESU led 10-7 at halftime.
The Mules went three and out on their first drive of the second half and ESU took the ball 62 yards in 13 plays to open up a 10-point lead. Marstall hit Landon Nault for a 12-yard scoring strike and the Hornets led 17-7.
The Mules outgained ESU 486-443, but UCM threw three interceptions and also lost a fumble. Fugate ended the day 22-of-44 for 326 yards with a pair of touchdowns and three picks. McNac rushed 14 times for 110 yards and his first career TD and Zachery caught six passes for 84 yards and a score.
Defensively,
Dylan Albertson led the Mules with a career-high 12 tackles in his first career start. He also had two tackles for loss and an interception. Latimore had eight stops and the 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. As a unit, the Mules had 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Emporia State rushed for 210 yards and threw for 233 more in the victory. Brown gained 99 yards on 16 carries and scored twice. Marstall was 27-of-39 for 233 yards with two scores and two interceptions. Justin Brown caught eight passes for 30 yards.
JP Lohrentz, DeAndre Glover and Schankie all led the ESU defense with seven tackles. Glover had three tackles for loss, while Schankie had one and the interception late in the fourth quarter.
The Mules are back in action next Saturday night with the Fall Classic at Arrowhead against Northwest Missouri State. Kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City is set for 5 p.m. The UCM pregame tailgate hosted by UCM Athletics and the UCM Alumni Foundation will take place from 2:30-4:30 at the Founder's Club at Arrowhead. For more information, visit ucmathletics.com/FallClassicTailgate.
