WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Sept. 20, 2017) - Central Missouri Mules Football faces a tough opponent on the road Saturday, Sept. 23 in 15th ranked Emporia State.
OPPONENT: No. 15 Emporia State (2-1, 2-1 MIAA)
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23 - 2 p.m.
WHERE: Emporia, Kan. - Francis G. Welch Stadium
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 12:50 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 is back on the road this week. They travel to Emporia, Kan. to take on 15th-ranked Emporia State Saturday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m.
• The Mules got back to their winning ways last Saturday and found some offense to the tune of 66 points. The win moves the Mules to 2-1 on the season and is their sixth straight home win.
• Emporia State has won two-in-a-row since losing their season opener to Northwest Missouri. The Hornets got by Missouri Southern 34-29 last weekend in Joplin.
• In the preseason coaches and media polls, UCM was selected to finish third in both, which would match their place from a year ago. Emporia State was picked one spot ahead in second place in both polls.
• 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 26-15 all time on the road with Coach Svoboda on the sidelines.
• The Mules were 5-1 at home last season, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Hornets and are 31-9 in Coach Svoboda's seven years. Central Missouri plays five home games in 2017, but only four in Warrensburg.
STORY LINES
• The Mules and Hornets rivalry dates back to 1901. The two teams have met 62 times with the Mules holding a 39-19-4 all-time advantage. Dating back to 2000, the Mules have won 13 of 15 matchups, but ESU 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 have been receiving votes in the last two polls.
• 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
• The Mules had owned this series at the beginning of the millennium, winning the first 13 matchups. The Hornets have taken the last two however. The Mules still hold a distinct advantage all-time, 39-19-4. The team's first met way back in 1901 with UCM winning 12-0. After meeting the first 11 years after 2000, the two teams did not meet in 2012 or 2013 before matching up the last three years.
LAST MEETING WITH EMPORIA STATE
• Four quarters wasn't enough for these two teams last year. After 60 minutes, the two were tied at 24-all. Emporia State scored two touchdowns in overtime and held the Mules scoreless in the second to pull out the win.
• The Hornets took the lead, 24-21, with 36 seconds to play capping a seven-play 61 yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The Mules got a nice return to their 38 yard line and two completions to
Jaylen Zachery and one to
Tyler Jones set up a game-tying 34-yard field goal from
Billy Greco with seven seconds left to play.
• After both teams scored in the opening overtime,
Garrett Fugate was intercepted in the end zone to start the second overtime period. The Hornets ended the game one play later on a touchdown pass from Braxton Marshall to Mitchell Foote of 20 yards.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
• Emporia State picked up their second straight win with a 36-29 victory over Missouri Southern. The teams were tied at 19 going into the half and the Hornets took a 14-point lead on a 25 yard interception return from Logan Thompson and held on after a late Lion touchdown made it a one score game.
• Long time coach Garin Higgins is in his 11th season with Emporia State and 15th as a head coach. He's taken the Hornets to the NCAA playoffs in three of the last four years.
• Emporia State is ranked 15th in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. They started the season ranked 4th overall and have moved down to 14th and currently 15th.
• Despite being shutout in the season opener, the Hornets are still averaging 27 points per game which is sixth in the MIAA. They are gaining 422 yards of total offense which is third in the MIAA.
• The Hornets do most of their damage through the air, averaging 273.3 yards of passing offense per game. That is all thanks to junior quarterback Braxton Marstall and his 151.5 passing efficiency. Marstall also has 25 rushing attempts for 62 yards. The Hornets leading rusher this season has been Landon Nault and his 186 yards. Kai Collins is also over 100 rushing yards with 107 on 26 attempts. ESU averages nearly 150 yards on the ground per game at 148.7.
• The Hornet defense has forced only three turnovers in their first three games of the season, two fumbles and one interception. The interception came last week against Missouri Southern and was returned 25 yards for a touchdown.
• Speaking of turnovers, quarterback Braxton Marstall has yet to throw an interception and has six touchdown passes on the season. He's completing 65% of his passes (67-103) and has thrown for 805 yards.
• Marstall's top two receivers this year have been Justin Brown and Louis Dailey. Brown has caught 14 balls for 130 yards and a touchdown. Dailey has been a threat deep averaging 15.6 yards per catch and has three scores including a long of 61. Three other receivers have caught at least eight passes and have between 89-91 yards. Carson Proffitt has six receptions for 103 yards to average 17.2 yards per catch
• Emporia State averages 23 yards per kickoff return on nine attempts. Kelin Gordon has four of the nine returns for 75 yards. Anthony McGee averages 25.5 yards per return on two attempts and Kai Collins has brought one back 44 yards. Collins is also the primary punt returner with four returns for 28 yards and a long of 14.
• The only team to average more penalties in the MIAA this season than the Hornets have been the Mules. ESU has committed 26 penalties this season for 260 yards with at least seven penalties in each game this year.
• This will be a battle of top-five punters. Davidson leads the NCAA at 46.4 yards per boot and Hornet kicker Just in Marcha averages 45 yards per kick on 12 attempts.
• Hornet kicker Austin Morton has attempted all six of his field goals from at least 30 yards out. He's 2-3 on kicks of 30-39 yards and 1-3 from outside 40 with a long of 41.
• The defense is led by Gabe Cleveland and Logan Thompson. Thompson is the reigning MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after he had nine tackles and and interception returned for a touchdown. He has 21 tackles on the season. Cleveland leads the Hornet defense with 32 total tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Emporia State is averaging two sacks per game.
LAST TIME OUT
• Central Missouri's offense exploded last weekend against Missouri Western. After failing to score a touchdown at Hays, the Mules scored nine in their 66-44 win against the Griffons.
• The game was tied at 20 at the half when Missouri Western kicked a 46-yard field goal with no time remaining.
• UCM scored 46 second half points however to win the highest scoring game in Mules football history with 110 combined points.
•
Brook Bolles completed just 12 passes, but still threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns. No Mules receiver caught more than two passes.
Kyrion Parker made the most of his two catches, finding the endzone both times, including a 71-yard catch and run.
Jovante Siglar bettered that with an 81-yard touchdown reception and finished with a game-high 99 yards receiving.
• The Mules had a 200-yard running back as well in
Devante Turner who ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Turner found paydirt from seven and 67 yards out.
Koby Wilkerson also scored twice on the ground, he totaled 80 yards on 17 carries.
• The Mules defense finally forced some turnovers - two interceptions and three fumbles.
Austin Miller scooped up the third Griffon fumble and scampered 11 yards into the end zone for the Mules final touchdown.
MULES ALL TIME RECORDS
• Mules wide receiver
Jaylen Zachery continues to move up in UCM's all-time ranks. He has moved up to seventh all time with 3,769 all purpose yards. With just 35 more yards he can move into sixth all time. Zachery also needs just 231 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 set the Mules all-time record at 24.
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 51-22 in conference games under
Jim Svoboda.
THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules went 5-1 at home in 2016 and are 31-9 at home under
Jim Svoboda and winners of six straight.
• The Mules are 236-183-13 overall in their 86th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri is 26-15 in road games during the
Jim Svoboda era following the loss at Hays.
• The Mules finished 2016 at 4-1 away from Warrensburg. They went a perfect 4-0 in true road games.
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. UCM and the Griffons were tied up 20-20 at the half in their most recent game.
21 AND UP
• UCM is 56-12 under
Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 54-6 during the Svoboda era and 31-1 when scoring 40 or more points.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• Central Missouri had their largest scoring night in 11 years Saturday, extending their MIAA record streak of consecutive games without being shutout to 284.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.
MULE KICKS
•
Alex Langer connected on his lone field goal attempt Saturday from 32 yards out. He is now 6-for-6 on field goal attempts to start his UCM career.
• Punter
Zach Davidson is also kicking for the first time at UCM. He has punted 14 times in three games with an average of 46.4 yards per punt and a long of 66. Davidson also downed three kicks inside the 20 yard line and is the Division II leader in punting average.
2017 MIAA AND NCAA STAT LEADERS
•
Devante Turner and
Koby Wilkerson rank 2nd and 3rd in the MIAA in rushing yards per game. Tuner, after his 210 yard performance against Missouri Western is averaging 94.3 yards per game and Wilkerson is at 74.7 yards per game. Turner is also fourth in the NCAA with 8.58 yards per carry.
•
Brook Bolles is still third in the MIAA in passing yards per game with 262. He threw for a career-high 287 yards and four touchdowns against the Griffons. Bolles is near the bottom of the league in completion percentage though. He's 9th completing just 48.3%.
• Three Mules are in the league's top-15 in receptions.
Kyrion Parker is ninth in the league with 4.3 catches per game and
Seth Hebert and
Jaylen Zachery are tied for 11th with four per game.
•
Alex Lackey is averaging 7.3 tackles per game to rank 12th in the conference.
Dylan Albertson's 0.67 sacks per game is third in the league. UCM's 3.67 sacks per game are tops in the MIAA and 13th in the NCAA.
• The Mules kicking game has remained strong. Not only is Davidson leading Division II in punt average,
Alex Langer is the only Division II kicker to not miss this season on at least six attempts.
• With 71 first downs, the Mules offense has the most in the MIAA and the 14th most in Division II.
AROUND THE MIAA
• Both Northwest Missouri and Fort Hays State are the only unbeaten's left in the MIAA. The Bearcats host Missouri Southern while the Tigers host Northeastern State this week.
• 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 stayed at No. 15 and Fort Hays State moved up to No 18.
• Additional matchups this weekend sees Nebraska-Kearney at Washburn, Central Oklahoma at Missouri Western and Lindenwood at Pittsburg State.
A WIN OVER EMPORIA STATE WOULD...
• Give the Mules a two-game winning streak.
• Be the first win over the Hornets since 2014.
• Be their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating #22 Central Oklahoma in 2014
• Move UCM to 3-1 for the second straight year and just the second time in five years.
A LOSS TO EMPORIA STATE WOULD...
• Drop UCM to 2-2 for the season.
• Be the Mules third straight loss to the Hornets.
• Be the fifth straight loss to a ranked opponent.
• Give the Mules back-to-back road losses for the first time since the 2014 season.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 553-509-51 (.520) record in 1,108 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 58-26 (.690) 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 .690 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 84 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. He again led the team in week two with four catches for 61 yards in the Titans first win of the season, 37-16 against the Jaguars.
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
• Next week is Fall Classic Week! The Mules and Bearcats of Northwest Missouri will square off at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. for the second straight year. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
