Mules Set Total Offense Record in Win

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 14, 2017) - Central Missouri had an offense explosion the likes of which has never been seen before in school history, with a new team record 726 yards of total offense. Central Missouri earned their second win in a row with a season-best 71 point effort in a 71-22 win against Missouri Southern. The Mules now stand at 5-2 on the season and in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• The Mules scored 71 points while picking 32 first downs. 377 of those yards came on the ground and 349 in the air. 
• Central Missouri was 7-of-9 on third down attempts and a perfect 6-for-6 inside the red zone.
• UCM had a season-high three interceptions on defense.
• The Mules got on the board first, with an Alex Langer 28 yard field goal.
• The two teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter and the Mules led 17-14 after one. Devante Turner and Brook Bolles each had rushing touchdowns in the period.
• UCM then turned it on both offensively and defensively. The Mules outscored the Lions 27-0 in the second quarter and 21-0 in the third. Turner picked up three more touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air. The Mules also got rushing TDs from Koby Wilkerson and Sharvon Gunn and a receiving touchdown from Wesley Thomas. 
• The Mules special teams came through with a touchdown as well, when Diaron Rhodes blocked a punt, scooped it up, and scored.
• After trailing 14-10, the Mules outscored the Lions 55-0. 
• Kyle Bradley scored on a 10-yard rush to get the Mules into the 70s. 
• Missouri Southern scored on a 23-yard TD pass and a safety to complete their scoring.

It Was Over When...
• It took just 62 seconds for the Mules to score in the second half. Rhodes bull-rushed the MSSU punter and deflected the kick towards the Lion bench. He then scooped up the ball and took off down the sideline, returning it 37 yards for a score. That put the Mules up 51-14 and squashed any hope for a Lion comeback. 

Mule Stat Leaders
• Turner led the rushing attack with 122 yards, but it was a total team effort. Wilkerson added 81, Gunn had 57 and Bradley had 43.
• Bolles didn't need to sling it often, but when he did, he found some open receivers. He connected on 15-of-25 passes for 337 yards and two scores.
• Kyrion Parker led UCM receivers with three catches for 75 yards. 
• Wilkerson had a team-best 78 receiving yards on two catches.
• Monteze Latimore led the Mule defense with 10 tackles. He also had two pass breakups and interception. 
• Jackson Newman and Austin Miller also had interceptions for UCM. 
• Alex Langer connected on his only field goal attempt of the afternoon. He had a busy day kicking off 12 times with seven touchbacks. He also was 8-for-10 on extra point attempts.

For the Lions
• Quarterback Braden Scott completed 17-of-33 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 25 total yards. 
• Josh Hadley was the Lions leading rusher with 51 yards on eight carries.
• Dante Vandeven was Scott's favorite target. He picked up 112 yards and two touchdowns on four catches.
• Josiah Bennet also had four catches for 34 yards.
• Alexander Wade had a game-high tying 10 tackles.
• Akel Beard had six tackles, 2.5 for loss. 

News and Notes
• Central Missouri's 726 total yards of offense is a new school record. Breaking the previous record of 705 set in 2015, also against Missouri Southern.
• The two teams combined for 1,125 yards of total offense, also a UCM record. That broke the record of 1,059 yards that was set in the Mules last game at Walton Stadium against Missouri Western in September.
• Jaylen Zachery became the Mules all-time leader in receiving yards. He had two catches for 53 yards and now has 2,388 for his career.
• The Mules came close to matching their school record for most rushing yards in a half and in a game. The Mules had 232 rushing yards at halftime, just eight yards shy of their team record. They finished with 377 rushing yards, missing the mark by 51 yards.
• The touchdown by Sharvon Gunn was the first of his career.
• Backup quarterback Kyle Bradley scored a touchdown for the second straight week.
• The Mules three interceptions are the most in a game this season.
• The 71 points by UCM are their most since the season opener in 2006 when they scored 78 against Lincoln. 

Up Next
• The Mules are back on the road for two games starting Saturday, Oct. 21. They travel to Topeka, Kan. to take on Washburn who is also 5-2 this season. The Ichabods are coming off of a loss, 37-20 at the hands of Fort Hays State.