Mules Football Heads to Pittsburg, Kan.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 17, 2018) - Central Missouri Mules Football is on the road again this week looking to snap a two-game losing streak.

OPPONENT: Pittsburg State Gorillas (5-2, 5-2 MIAA)

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 - 2:05 p.m.

WHERE: Pittsburg, Kan. - Carnie Smith 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-to-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. 
• Additionally, this game has been selected by the NCAA as a showcase game. The game will be aired on NCAA social media platforms including facebook and twitter live. It will also be televised locally on KMOS Channel 6.

KICKOFF
• Central Missouri hits the road looking to get back on track following two straight losses. The Mules will be in Pittsburg, Kan. to take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas. 
• The Mules never led in last week's 41-23 loss to Emporia State. They have now lost back-to-back games for the first time since the 2016 season. 
• Like the Mules, the Gorillas are on a two-game losing streak of their own. They've dropped back-to-back games to Northwest Missouri and Fort Hays State. 
• 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 Mules are yet to win a road game this season, having started the year 0-3. They were 4-2 last year on the road and are 30-19 all-time in road games under Coach Svoboda. 
• Pittsburg State was picked to finish fourth in the MIAA preseason coaches and media poll to start the season after ending last season at 7-4. 

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 42-11-2 in 55 lifetime meetings. However, after just six wins in 46 meetings between 1916 and 2008, the Mules are 5-4 against the Gorillas in their last eight matchups including the last three, their first three-game winning streak ever vs. the Gorillas. 

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST PITTSBURG STATE
• The Mules and Gorillas kicked off the 2017 season. UCM won their third straight over PSU, 28-23.
• UCM trailed 16-9 at the half, but scored 19 second half points and held PSU to just seven.
• Koby Wilkerson had a big day with 122 yards on the ground and Devante Turner added 64 and a score.
• Seth Hebert found the endzone as well and caught four passes for 49 yards. 

MULES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• UCM was ranked 18th in the preseason American Football Coaches Association preseason poll and hovered around that spot for the first three weeks. UCM hasn't been ranked in any of the last four polls. 

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
• Pittsburg State started the season with five straight wins before dropping their last two. PSU has been outscored 81-28 in their two losses, after allowing just 68 points in their first five games combined.
• Quarterback John Roderique has led the team throwing for 759 yards while completing 68 passes. He's also rushed 46 times for 129 yards with four rushing and four passing touchdowns.
• The Gorillas have gained nearly 1500 yards on the ground, the third most in the MIAA. Tyler Adkins leads the team with 567 rushing yards and has four scores.
• Lorenzo West is Roderique's favorite target with 38 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns. 
• Defensively, the Gorillas get after the quarterback with 27 sacks this season which leads the MIAA and is nine more than the next best team. Cole Morris leads the team with 6.5 sacks.

THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules finished 8-3 in conference play in 2017 and placed third in the league standings for the third consecutive season. 
• UCM now stands at 60-28 in conference games under Jim Svoboda.
• The Mules are 4-3 in MIAA games against Pittsburg State under Svoboda. 

THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules finished 2017 undefeated at home at 4-0 and are 36-10 at home under Jim Svoboda.
• Their loss against Emporia State snapped an 11 game home winning streak. 
• The Mules are 242-184-13 overall and 2018 will be their 87th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.

THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri is 30-19 in road games during the Jim Svoboda era following their 33-26 loss to Central Oklahoma last weekend. 
• The Mules finished 2017 at 5-2 away from Warrensburg. They were 4-2 in true road games and had a win in their only neutral site game. 

WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
• The Mules are 53-8 during the Jim Svoboda era when leading at halftime. UCM led 40-7 at the half against the Lions on their way to a 61-7 win.
• The Mules are 12-23 all-time under Coach Svoboda when trailing at halftime after falling to Emporia State last weekend. 

21 AND UP
• UCM is 66-16 under Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 64-7 during the Svoboda era and 38-1 when scoring 40 or more points.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• Central Missouri has scored in 296 straight games and have a chance to reach 300 by seasons end.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.

GAME CHANGING PLAYS
• The Mules defense is near the bottom of the league in both interceptions and sacks. They have just four intreceptions this season and 11 sacks. 
• UCM has forced just seven turnovers in seven games with four interceptions and three fumbles.

2018 MIAA STAT LEADERS
• Central Missouri leads the MIAA in total offense with 528.6 yards per game and in scoring offense at 37.1 points per game. UCM is fourth in the NCAA in total offense as well. 
• On the defensive side of the ball, they are sixth in scoring defense at 21.9 points per game and fifth in total defense, allowing 346.4 yards per game. 
• UCM is fourth in rushing offense averaging 204.1 yards per game and leads the league in passing at 324.4 yards per game, the only team to average more than 300 passing yards per game. 
• Jeremy Hunt leads the MIAA in passing yards with 1,792 yards despite playing in fewer games and having fewer attempts than anyone else in the top-six. His 15 touchdown passes are also the most in the MIAA.
• Shae Wyatt is second in the MIAA in receiving yards with 637. Among receivers with 10 or more catches, his 20.5 yards per reception is third. 

MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 563-514-51 (.522) record in 1,128 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 nine times in their history, including two trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs, the last coming in 2016.
• Zach Davidson leads the MIAA with 43 yards per punt on 21 kicks. 

SVOBODA AT THE HELM
• Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda has a record of 68-32 (.680) during his eight-plus seasons leading the Mules. He has led the Mules to four postseason appearances.
• He is third on UCM's career wins list.
• Svoboda's .680 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 made back-to-back postseason appearances. UCM pulled the same feat in 2016-17 with a berth in the NCAA Playoffs in 2016 and a victory in the 2017 Mineral Water Bowl. 
• 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 86 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.

UP NEXT
• The Mules will be home for homecoming. UCM takes on Nebraska-Kearney Saturday, Oct. 27 with a 1:30 kickoff.