Mules Football Returns Home to Face Missouri Western

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Sept. 12, 2017) - Mules football comes back to Warrensburg for their first Saturday afternoon game of the 2017 season.

OPPONENT: Missouri Western (1-1, 1-1 MIAA)

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16 - 1 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
• Central Missouri returns to Warrensburg for their third game of the season. The Mules will host Missouri Western for their first afternoon game, Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. 
• The Mules lost to Fort Hays State (RV) last Thursday in Hays, Kan, 35-6. The loss snaps a four game winning streak in MIAA road games. 
• Missouri Western dropped their season opener to Nebraska-Kearney 14-3 before getting in the win column with a 45-7 victory at home over Missouri Southern. 
• In the preseason coaches and media polls, UCM was selected to finish third in both, which would match their place from a year ago. Missouri Western was picked seventh in coach's poll and eighth in the media poll. 
• Central Missouri finished 2016 at 4-1 on the road last year, with their only loss coming in the NCAA Playoffs against Harding. UCM is 26-14 all time on the road with Coach Svoboda on the sidelines. 
• The Mules were 5-1 at home last season and are 30-9 in Coach Svoboda's seven years. Central Missouri plays five home games in 2017, but only four in Warrensburg. 

STORY LINES
• The Mules and Griffons rivalry dates back to 1975. The two teams have met every year since 1986 with the Griffons holding a 17-15-1 all-time advantage. Dating back to 2003, the Griffons have won 11 of 14 matches, but UCM has taken the last two. 
• 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, and reached a high of 13 after week one. They fell out of the rankings and are receiving votes in the latest poll. 
• Under head coach Jim Svoboda the Mules have been ranked in the AFCA Poll 30 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of five times.

SERIES HISTORY
• Central Missouri can get to within one of evening up the all-time series. Central Missouri is 15-17-1 all time against Missouri Western, but has won the last two. Coach Svoboda won his first ever meeting with Missouri Western before losing four straight from 2011-14. Each of the last four matches have been decided by four points or fewer and a total of nine points in four games. 

LAST MEETING WITH MISSOURI WESTERN
• In St. Joseph last season, the Mules scored with 4:28 left on the clock to pull out a wild 38-34 win. UCM built a 24-17 lead at the half before falling behind 34-31. 
• The lead changed seven times in this game before the Mules were able to score the game winning touchdown - a 23 yard touchdown reception from Jaylen Zachery. The Mules defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and ran out the clock to preserve the win. 
• The Mules rushed for 130 yards and threw for 408 more. Gabe Vandiver and Xavier Washpun each scored a rushing touchdown and Zachery caught eight passes for 131 yards and a score. 

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS
• Missouri Western got into the win column with a 45-7 drubbing of Missouri Southern. This following their 14-3 in their opener on the road at Nebraska-Kearney. 
• Head Coach Matt Williamson is in his first season with the Griffons. Missouri Western finished with a losing record, 4-7 last year and fired long time head coach Jerry Partridge
• Missouri Western, after hanging 45 on Missouri Southern is averaging 24 points per game which is sixth in the MIAA. Defensively they rank third giving up just 10.5 points per game, having allowed just three touchdowns in eight quarters. 
• Yardage wise, the Griffons are gaining 338.5 yards per game which is eighth in the MIAA, but they are fourth in the league rushing for 174 yards per game. MWSU's 276 yards allowed per game are the third fewest in the league, one of just three teams surrendering fewer than 300 yards per game. They are also one of only four teams to give up fewer than 200 yards per game through the air. The Griffon defense is allowing just 165.5 passing yards per game, which is third in the MIAA.
• Missouri Western has forced four turnovers on defense, two fumbles and two interceptions. All four turnovers came last week against Missouri Southern. The Griffon defense has also recorded five quarterback sacks with four defenders each recording at least one. 
• The biggest story from the Griffons week one defeat was the loss of quarterback Skyler Windmiller. Missouri Western relied on both Dom Marino and Corey Bertini at the quarterback position against the Lions. Marino finished 6-for-9 with 110 yards and two touchdowns. Bertini was 4-for-6 with 47 yards and a touchdown pass. Marino is listed as the starter on the latest two-deep roster for the Griffons.
• Both Marino and Bertini are threats to run. Bertini ran 10 times for 52 yards against the Lions and Marino picked up 43 yards on seven carries. In the absence of Windmiller, the Griffons have turned to the running abilities of Josh Caldwell. Caldwell scored three rushing touchdowns against Missouri Southern while picking up 142 yards on 14 carries, averaging 10.1 yards per rush
• No receiver has caught more than six passes this year led by Keylan Mack with 66 yards on six receptions. Ten different receivers have caught a pass for Missouri Western this season and three have touchdown passes. Austin Burau and Nino Johnson each have only one reception but scored on it. Johnson a six-yard pass and Burau and 57 yard touchdown catch. Dijuan Ussery has four receptions for 56 yards and a score.
• In the return game, the Griffons have used both Jonathan Edwards and Bradin Dandridge on punts and Shmar Griffith on kick returns. Dandridge is averaging 28.5 yards per return on two punts, including a long of 52. Griffith has 100 yards on three returns and a long of 46.
• There has been a lot of laundry on the field in both games for the Griffons. MWSU has 16 penalties for 169 yards and their opponents have 15 for 114 yards. 
• Missouri Western has struggled on third downs this season, converting just six of 30. They have allowed nine of 33 to the opposition. MWSU is three of five on fourth down converstion attempts this season. 
• Kicker Tyler Basch is 2-for-3 this season on field goal attempts, making both from inside 30 yards, but missing a 49 yarder against the Lions. He is also a perfect 6-for-6 on extra point attempts. Punt Luke Theis has kicked 15 times in two games and is averaging 37.8 yards per boot with two kicks over 50 yards and two landing inside the 20.
• Owens has been the leading tackler for the Griffons with 15. He also has an interception and a pass defensed. Jabbar Miles, Anthony Williams and Kyle Dumler all have 14 tackles. 

LAST TIME OUT
• Central Missouri struggled in their debut on the road, losing 35-6 to Fort Hays State last Thursday night in Hays, Kan. 
• Fort Hays came out strong out of the gates scoring 21 unanswered points to start the game. The Tigers scored on their opening possession and never trailed, knocking the Mules to 1-1 on the season.
• Brook Bolles again started at quarterback and completed a career-high 29 passes on 53 attempts for 273 yards. He did not throw for a touchdown or have an interception in the game. Jaylen Zachery, Kyrion Parker and Seth Hebert each had seven receptions in the game. Zachley led the way with 84 yards and Parker and Hebert both had more than 60 receiving yards. 
• UCM struggled on the ground netting just 31 yards. Koby Wilkerson had a team-high 22 yards on 10 attempts. 
• The Mules defense did not come up with a turnover in the game. Jackson Newman led the team with 10 tackles. Michael Tannehill had a sack and Dylan Albertson and Carter Nicoli had a half a sack each. 

MULES ALL TIME RECORDS
• Mules wide receiver Jaylen Zachery continues to move up in UCM's all-time ranks. He has moved up to eighth all time with 3,624 all purpose yards. With just 113 more yards he can move into seventh all time. Zachery also needs just 376 more yards to become the fifth Mule to ever reach 4,000 career all-purpose yards. 
• Zachery isn't the only Mule to move into UCM history. With a pass breakup last week, defensive back Diaron Rhodes tied the Mules all time record at 23. 

ODDS AND ENDS
• Kicker Alex Langer is a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, leading the NCAA in both makes per game and percentage. There are 25 kickers who are yet to miss a field goal this season and five who are averaging 2.5 makes per game, but Langer is one of just two to be in both categories.
• Teams are a perfect 6-for-6 this season scoring once they enter the Mules red zone. UCM has given up three rushing touchdowns, two passing and one field goal the six times opposing teams have been inside the 20 yard line. 

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 50-22 in conference games under Jim Svoboda.

THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules went 5-1 at home in 2016 and 30-9 at home under Jim Svoboda.
• The Mules are 235-183-13 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 their loss Thursday night in Hays
• 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 9-18 all-time under Svoboda and 1-1 to start 2017 when trailing at halftime after their loss to Fort Hays State. 

21 AND UP
• UCM is 55-12 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 a pair of field goals last Thursday, extending their MIAA record streak of consecutive games without being shutout to 283.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.

MULE KICKS
• Alex Langer hit both of his field goal attempts last Thursday, from 34 and 21 yards out. He is now 5-for-5 on field goal attempts to start his UCM career. 
• Punter Zach Davidson is also kicking for the first time at UCM. He has punted 11 times in two games with an average of 45.8 yards per punt and a long of 66. Davidson also downed three kicks inside the 20 yard line and leads the MIAA and is third in all of Division II in punting average. 

2017 MIAA AND NCAA STAT LEADERS
• Koby Wilkerson dropped to fourth overall in the MIAA in rushing yards per game at 94.5. His 6.3 yards per carry also has him in the MIAA top-10 at 10th and he is sixth among running backs with at least 10 attempts. 
• Brook Bolles moved up to third in the MIAA in pasing yards per game with 249.5. He threw for a career-high 273 yards. Bolles is near the bottom of the league in completion percentage though. He's 10th completing just 48.9%. His 22 completions per game is second in the MIAA and 23rd in Division II. 
• Three Mules are in the league's top-10 in receptions. Kyrion Parker and and Seth Hebert are tied for third with 11 receptions each. Jaylen Zachery is tied for seventh with 10 receptions. Parker is also fourth in the league with 155 yards and Zachery eighth at 126 yards. 
• Jackson Newman's 16 tackles are ninth in the MIAA. Kolesen Crane's 3.5 tackles for loss are tied for second as are his two sacks. Joshua Terry is tied for the lead league with four passes defensed. 
• Central Missouri is allowing just 15 yards per kick return which has them ranked 19th in the NCAA and leads the league. 

AROUND THE MIAA
• All of the league's games this week take place on a Saturday for the first time this season.
• The MIAA again had three teams ranked in the AFCA top-25 and the Mules were receiving votes. Northwest Missouri remained number one in the AFCA poll while Emporia State moved up a spot to No. 15 and Fort Hays State made their first appearance at No. 21. 
• Only two teams in the MIAA remain undefeated at 2-0, Northwest Missouri and Fort Hays State. Eight are 1-1 and two are 0-2. 
• This weekend sees Washburn at Lindenwood, Emporia State at Missouri Southern, Fort Hays State at Central Oklahoma, Pittsburg State at Northeastern State and Northwest Missouri at Nebraska-Kearney. 

A WIN OVER MISSOURI WESTERN WOULD...
• Put the Mules over .500 for the season at 2-1.
• Be the third straight win for UCM against the Griffons. The last time that happened was  from 1992-94.
• Move UCM to within one game of evening the all-time series with Missouri Western. The Griffons currently lead 17-15-1. 
• Give UCM a winning record heading into their next two games against ranked opponents.

A LOSS TO MISSOURI WESTERN WOULD...
• Drop UCM to 1-2 for the season. 
• Be the first time the Mules are under .500 since week 3 of the 2015 season.
• Snap a two game winning streak to Missouri Western. 
• Be the first time the Mules lost back-to-back games to unranked opponents since the 2012 season.

MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 552-509-51 (.519) record in 1,107 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 57-26 (.687) during his seven-plus seasons leading the Mules. He has led the Mules to three postseason appearances.
• He is third on UCM's career wins list.
• Svoboda's .687 winning percentage 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.
• In the Titans first game of 2017, Walker led the team with seven catches for 76 yards in their 26-16 loss to Oakland. 

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 will hit the road and travel again to Kansas. Emporia State welcomes the Mules Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m.