Mules Football Season Starts Thursday vs. Pittsburg State

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (August 28, 2017) - No. 21 Central Missouri Mules football kicks off the 2017 season under the lights Thursday at Walton Stadium.

Opponent: Pittsburg State (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)

When: Thursday, August 31, 7 p.m.

Where: Warrensburg, Mo. - Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field

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 Tailgate Show will begin at 5:50 p.m. on the UCM Sports Network.
• The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's Blueframe Internet portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/. It is a pay-per-view webcast. MIAA Network content is available live via live DVR and is immediately archived for on-demand viewing after each event. 
• All MIAA football games are also available for viewing on The MIAA Network Apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku. 

KICKOFF
• The 21st-ranked Central Missouri Mules open their season at home Thursday, Aug. 31 against the Pittsburg State Gorillas (RV) from Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field at 7 p.m. 
• Central Missouri finished the 2016 season at 9-3 and made their first NCAA playoff appearance since 2010. The season came to an end in the opening round on the road at Harding, 48-31.
• Pittsburg State went 7-4 a year ago, finishing 3-3 in their last six games. The Gorillas were impressive on the road, winning five of six away from Carnie Smith Stadium. 
• In the preseason coaches and media polls, UCM was selected to finish third in both, which would match their place from a year ago. The Gorillas were one spot behind the Mules, picked fourth. 
• Pittsburg State last made the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2014, when they finished 11-2 overall. 
• The Mules were 5-1 at home last season and are 29-9 in Coach Svoboda's seven years. Central Missouri plays five home games in 2017, but only four in Warrensburg. 

STORY LINES
• This marks the 55th meeting between Central Missouri and Pittsburg State in team history. UCM has won the last two, but PSU leads the overall series 42-10-2. 
• Central Missouri's nine wins in 2016 is tied for third all-time in team history. The last time UCM won at least nine games was back in Coach Svoboda's first year of 2010, when the team went 11-3.
• The Mules play four of their 11 regular season games in Warrensburg this season (one home game will be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City). In the last eight seasons (including 2017) they have played more games on the road in six of them. 
• The Mules have finished each of the last 10 seasons with a winning record after their 9-3 mark in 2016 and have now done so in 18 of the last 19 seasons as well. 

MULES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• UCM opened up the season ranked 21st in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason poll., which is where they were in the final poll of 2016. 
• Under head coach Jim Svoboda the Mules have been ranked in the AFCA Poll 29 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of five times.

SERIES HISTORY
• Pittsburg State is one of UCM's longest tenured rivals. Historically, the Gorilla's have gotten the better of the Mules to the tune of 42-10-2 in 54 lifetime meetings. However, after just six wins in 46 meetings between 1916 and 2008, the Mules are 4-4 against the Gorillas in their last eight matchups including taking the last two in 2015 and 2016. 

LAST MEETING WITH PITTSBURG STATE
• The Mules opened last season at Pittsburg State with a 34-27 win.
• PSU took a 13-0 lead, but the Mules finally got on the board midway through the second quarter. UCM took their first lead with just under 10 minutes left to play in the third and never trailed again, outscoring Pittsburg State 27-3 in the second and third quarters.
• Jaylen Zachery caught three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 73 yard punt return.
• UCM picked off two passes from PSU quarterback Thomas LePage. 

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
• Pittsburg State finished the 2016 regular season at 7-4, tied with two other teams for fourth place in the MIAA. They were picked fourth by the coaches and the media in the MIAA preseason polls.
• Head Coach Tim Beck is 60-23 and like Mules coach Jim Svoboda is entering his eighth season in 2017. He's taken the Gorillas to two NCAA-II Playoff berths and two bowl games and a National Championship victory in 2011. 
• Pittsburg State's offense scored the second most points in the MIAA in 2016, averaging 40.4 points per game. They played in some high-scoring affairs with their defense giving up nearly as much at 37.4 points per game. 
• In terms of yardage, no team gained more than the Gorillas in 2016. They led the league and were 14th in NCAA-II picking up 481.6 total yards per game. That came mostly through the air as they were just one of two teams to average more than 300 passing yards per game at 305.5. PSU also rushed for 176.1 yards per game which was fourth in the MIAA in 2016. 
• The Gorilla defense proved to be opportunistic scoring seven defensive touchdowns was led the MIAA and was second in the country only to Limestone's eight. All seven were from interceptions and Darrius White scored twice. 
• Two quarterbacks attempted at least 100 passes a year ago and both will be back for 2017. Junior John Roderique got the bulk of the snaps and threw for 2,496 yards and 19 touchdowns, completing 58.6% of his passes in nine games. Senior Thomas LePage also got into seven games throwing for 846 yards and five touchdown passes.  
• The Gorillas will also return their leading rusher from 2016 and two of their top-three receiving threats. In only eight games, Michael Rose led the PSU rushing attack with 584 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 112 attempts. 
• Leading receiver Levi Copelin won't be lining up for the Gorillas, but they are left in more than capable hands with Brenner Clemons and Austin Panko. Clemons grabbed 42 passes for 559 yards and four scores while Panko led the team in yards per catch with 18.4 on 41 receptions and also scored five times. Panko was also a threat on punt returns, finishing third in the MIAA and 22nd in Division II averaging 11.9 yards per return with a score. 
• In total, 14 Gorillas scored a touchdown last season and nine are back in 2017.
• On third downs, PSU picked up 46% (81-176) last year, third in the MIAA and 25th in the nation. That number rose even higher on fourth down where they picked up 58% (14-24) and were 26th in D2. 
• The defense will undergo a bit of a makeover as PSU lost a handful of starters. Ethan Fugitt and his 90 tackles is back. He also made eight stops for loss from the linebacker position. 
• One big weapon the Gorillas used to flip field position was Carter Anchors, the PSU punter. He led the MIAA and finished in the top-five in the country averaging 43.9 yards per boot. 

LAST TIME OUT
• Central Missouri played in their first NCAA Division II playoff game since 2010, traveling to Searcy, Ark. to take on the Harding Bisons. 
• After holding a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, the Bisons rallied back to claim a 48-31 victory and knock the Mules out of the playoffs. 
• UCM struggled against the high-powered running attack of the Bisons, giving up 528 total yards including 355 on 61 carries. The Mules totaled 381 total yards themselves, with 327 coming through the air.
• Central Missouri spent most of the game on defense as Harding controlled the ball for 38:50. The Mules only had 21:10 time of possession. 
• Garrett Fugate did most of the works for the Mules throwing for 314 yards and three touchdown passes. He also ran 12 times for a total of 29 yards and a touchdown. 
• Jaylen Zachery caught seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Echols also reached the endzone and had 72 yards on five receptions. 

2016 ALL-MIAA MULES
• UCM earned 18 All-MIAA awards from 16 players last season, including Jaylen Zachery earning MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year honors. He was also a First Team selection at wide receiver and kick returner. He was joined on the first team by offensive lineman Derrick Puni and defensive back Tevin Teamer.
• Second Team honorees included QB Garrett Fugate, TE Seth Hebert, DL Josh Powell and DB Monteze Latimore. OL Chris Gomez, DL Dalainey Taala and LB Dylan Albertson earned Third Team recognition.
• Honorable Mention honors went to RB Gabe Vandiver, WR Kyle Echols, OL Layne Fischer, DL Connor Flagel, DB Diaron Rhodes and DB Jackson Newman.

BACK AGAIN
• The Mules will have a lot of familiar faces back from the 2016 playoff team. They have 28 players coming back who have started at least one game in their career and 47 letterwinners. 
• Of those returning, 11 were named All-MIAA last year including First Teamer and Special Teams Player of the Year Jaylen Zachery. 
• The starting defense will see nine starters back from a year ago and that doesn't include former All-MIAA performer Austin Miller who played in only two games in 2016 before getting hurt. 

THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules finished 9-2 in conference play in 2016 and placed third in the league standings for the second consecutive season. 
• UCM now stands at 49-21 in conference games under Jim Svoboda.

THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules went 5-1 at home in 2016 and 29-9 at home under Jim Svoboda.
• The Mules are 234-183-13 overall in their 86th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.

THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri is 26-14 in road games during the Jim Svoboda era after falling in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs at Harding on Nov. 19.
• The Mules finished 2016 at 4-1 away from Warrensburg. They went a perfect 4-0 in true road games against MIAA opponents. 

WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
• The Mules improved to 46-7 during the Jim Svoboda era when leading at halftime after their 2016 regular season finale against Lindenwood.
• The Mules are 8-17 all-time under Svoboda and were 2-3 last year when trailing at halftime after failing to comeback against Harding. 

21 AND UP
• UCM is 54-12 under Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 53-6 during the Svoboda era and 30-1 when scoring 40 or more points.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• Central Missouri scored with less than five minutes having gone off of the clock at Harding extending their MIAA record streak of consecutive games without being shutout to 282.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.

ODDS AND ENDS
• UCM was built on a quick-strike offense. They averaged 31:10 time of possession in 2016 and 20 of their 60 touchdowns were scored in less than two minutes. 
• Ball possession was a key to UCM, losing only 17 turnovers. They threw eight interceptions and lost nine fumbles. 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
• Senior Jaylen Zachery was the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2016. He was second averaged 12.6 yards on punt returns and 26.7 yards on kickoff returns. 

STAYING DISCIPLINED
• The Mules led the MIAA and ranked 16th nationally in fewest penalties per game at 5.08 in 2016. UCM was penalized 61 times for 567 yards.
• That has been a theme for the Mules the past few years who finished third in 2015 and 27th nationally in 2014. 

2016 MIAA AND NCAA STAT LEADERS
• Garrett Fugate led the MIAA and was seventh nationally in passing averaging 304.6 yards per game. He completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,655 yards with 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His 31 touchdowns are tied for the second most in the league and 13th in DII, while his 155.8 pass efficiency rating is third best in the league and 21st in the country. He led the MIAA and is seventh in the country in total offense, averaging 342.7 yards per game.
• Jaylen Zachery finished fourth in the MIAA in receiving at 79 yards per game. His 62 catches were fifth most in the league and his 948 yards were third most.
• Zachery led the MIAA and ranked 23rd in the nation in all-purpose yards per game at 152.3 He is third in the league in kick returns (26.7 ypr) and second in punt returns (12.6 ypr). His two kickoff return touchdowns are also tops in the league and the country.
• Dylan Albertson was fifth in the league in interceptions with five, while Jackson Newman (4) was tied for sixth and Monteze Latimore (2) tied for 21st.
• J.R. Alexander's five sacks were sixth in the league while Josh Powell's four put him in a tie for 14th
• Latimore tied for 14th in the MIAA with 11 pass break-ups, while Travion Vaughn, Newman and Albertson tied for 20th with eight.

AROUND THE MIAA
• It is opening night for the MIAA with all 12 teams in action and all six games kicking off at 7 p.m. 
• The MIAA had three teams ranked in the AFCA top-25 and Pittsburg State was receiving votes. Those four teams all face off against one another in Week. In addition to the Mules and the Gorillas, there is a top-5 battle when No. 4 Emporia State travels to defending D2 Champions and top-ranked Northwest Missouri. 
• The other four matches see Fort Hays State head to Missouri Southern, Lindenwood at Central Oklahoma, Missouri Western at Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn at Northeastern State.

A WIN OVER PITTSBURG STATE WOULD...
• Give the Mules three straight wins over the Gorillas for the first time in team history. 
• Be the third straight season-opening win and would make the Mules 5-3 in season openers under Jim Svoboda.
• Improve the Mules all-time record against the Gorillas to 11-42-2 and would give them a 5-4 record in their last nine games. 
• Make Svoboda 7-1 in home openers at UCM. 

A LOSS TO PITTSBURG STATE WOULD...
• Give the Mules an 0-1 record for fourth time under Jim Svoboda.
• Be the Mules' first home loss since Sept. 24, 2016 when they fell in double OT to Emporia State, 37-31.
• Drop the Mules to 10-43-2 all time against the Gorillas and snap a two-game winning streak against PSU. 

MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 551-508-51 (.519) record in 1,105 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 2016.

SVOBODA AT THE HELM
• Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda has a record of 56-25 (.691) entering his eighth season leading the Mules. He has led the Mules to three postseason appearances.
• He is third on UCM's career wins list.
• Svoboda's .691 winning percentage entering the 2017 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 in his 12th season in the league and his fifth with the Tennessee Titans. Walker signed a four-year deal with the Titans, and a two-year extension through 2018, after playing in Super Bowl XLVII with San Francisco.
• Walker finished 2016 with 65 receptions for 800 yards and seven touchdowns, and has 405 catches for 4,814 yards with 31 touchdowns in his career.
• In 2015, he caught 94 passes for 1,088 yards, his first career 1,000 receiving yard season, and six touchdowns and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He made the Pro Bowl for a second consecutive year in 2016 as well. 
• 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 211 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured three MIAA regular season titles, one MIAA Tournament crown and two NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 157 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.
• In 2016, Central Missouri won the inaugural MIAA's Commissioner's Cup trophy for the conference's top overall athletic department. 

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 252 student-athletes named to the 2016-17 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 22 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.
• 20 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had five student-athletes earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in their respective sports. 
• All-time UCM is fourth in NCAA-II with 103 Academic All-Americans.
• Carly Thomas of Jennies Bowling was awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.

UP NEXT
• The Mules play another Thursday night game, this time against Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. next week, Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.