Mules Lose Heart Breaker at Arrowhead

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Sept. 30, 2017) - Central Missouri took the lead for the first time with 34 seconds, but couldn't hold as No. 1 Northwest Missouri scored the game winning touchdown with just seven seconds to play. UCM couldn't pull off a second miracle in as many weeks, and suffered just their second loss of the season, 20-17.

How it Happened
• Northwest scored twice in the first half, opening up a 14-0 lead. The Bearcats first touchdown came on a 30-yard interception return from Jacob Gassman. Zach Martin then hit Jordan Grove for a 10-yard TD in the second quarter.
• The Mules finally got on the board with an Alex Langer 29 yard field goal, with just over three minutes left in the half. He added another early in the second, this time from 34 yards out to make it a 14-6 game.
• UCM finally hit paydirt when Seth Hebert took a pass from Brook Bolles 61 yards to the endzone. Hebert caught the ball near the 20 and broke free from a NWMSU defender before scampering into the endzone. Langer added the extra point and the Mules trailed by one, 14-13 at the 8:53 mark in the third quarter.
• Northwest made it a four-point game with a field goal with 9:07 left to play.
• The Mules defense forced a NWMSU punt, getting the offense the ball with 4:15 on their own 31 yard line. On UCM's first play, Bolles threw an interception giving the Bearcats the ball back.
• Northwest had a chance to break it open, but Shawn Bane Jr. dropped a would-be touchdown inside the five to kill the Bearcats drive.
• Bolles got one more shot and this time drove the Mules 84 yards on eight plays in 2:28 to gives UCM their first lead of the game, 20-17 after a four yard touchdown pass to Kyrion Parker.
• With less than 30 seconds left, Bane Jr. made up for his drop, catching a pass at the Mules seven to set up the game-winning touchdown pass from Martin to Jordan Bishop with seven seconds to play.

It Was Over When...
• The Mules defense held strong all game long, but in the final seconds allowed NWMSU to move 68 yards in just 23 seconds to score the game-winning touchdown pass from Martin to Bishop. 

Mules Stat Leaders
• Bolles completed 17-of-43 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
• Bolles hit Devante Turner for most of his damage. Turner picked up 60 receiving yards on five catches. Add on his 24 rushing yards and 24 return yards and he finished with 108 all-purpose yards.
• Hebert led the Mules with 85 receiving yards on just two catches. Most of that damage came on his 61-yard TD pass in the third quarter.
• Kyle Echols added four catches for 69 yards and Jaylen Zachery had 45 yards on two catches.
• Langer hit two-of-three field goal attempts, missing a 48 yarder in the first, but connecting from 29 and 34 yards out.
• The Mules recorded only one turnover, a fumble recovery from Devin Smith to halt a Bearcat drive deep in UCM territory.
• Triphinue Taylor and Alex Lackey each picked up sacks.
• Austin Miller led the defense with eight total tackles, one for a loss.

For the Bearcats
• Zach Martin, a week after throwing for six touchdowns, only amassed two. He threw for 219 yards and connected on 17 of 39 passes.
• The Bearcats used a balanced rushing attack to pick up 111 yards on the ground. Brody McMahon did the most damage with 65 yards coming on 10 carries. Jordan Thompson rushed for 19 and Jordan Grove added 13.
• Bane Jr. was Martin's favorite target, collecting seven receptions for 139 yards. Bishop had four catches for 40 yards and a score. Grove also found the endzone and had 19 yards on three receptions.
• The Mules forced Northwest to punt 10 times. Matt Thorman averaged 36.9 yards on his 10 attempts, but pinned the Mules inside the 20 five times.
• Northwest dropped Bolles six times for sacks, by six different defenders. Ben Althoff racked up 12 tackles, seven solo. Anthony Lane had eight and a strip-sack and fumble recovery.
• The Bearcats won the turnover edge 3-1. Gassman and Jack Richards each had an interception.

News and Notes
• Jaylen Zachery needs just two catches to become the Mules all-time receiver. He is also needs 74 receiving yards to be the Mules all-time leader as well.
• This is the Mules fifth straight loss to the Bearcats.
• The Mules are now 0-2 in Fall Classic games at Arrowhead.
• Brook Bolles has thrown for 300 yards in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
• The Mules 72 rushing yards are their fewest this season.
• Central Missouri is yet to take a lead into the half.
• The Mules are just the second team to score against Northwest Missouri's defense this season.

Up Next
The Mules hit the road next week to face Nebraska-Kearney. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.