Big First Quarter Pushes Mules to Road Win

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (Nov. 3, 2018) - For the first time this season, Central Missouri Mules Football picked up a win on the road defeating Lindenwood 31-28. The game turned into a defensive battle at the end with just 21 of the 59 points scored in the second half.

How it Happened
• The stats tell the story of a tight game, just like the score. Lindenwood outgained UCM 504-468 in total offense. The Mules were more effective on the ground with 209 yards, while the Lions threw for 312 to UCM's 259.
• The Lions won the turnover battle as well, 2-1. Both teams threw an interception and LWU picked up a fumble. 
• UCM, as they so often do, used their big-play ability to pick up chunks of yards to move the ball down the field. Lindenwood was more methodical and held the ball for 36:10.
• One week after being called for 17 penalties the Mules were only flagged six times while the Lions drew eight flags for 73 yards. 
• The Mules started out red-hot, taking a 17-0 lead. They scored on their opening possession, going 70 yards down to the Lindenwood five. Alex Langer got UCM on the board with a 22-yard field goal.
• UCM scored twice more in the first quarter. The Mule defense held Lindenwood to a three-and-out and on their next possession, UCM went 78 yards in 11 plays and made it a 10-0 game when Koby Wilkerson scored from two-yards out. Kyle Bradley picked up two key third-and-longs, one with a 13-yard pass to Jalen Marsalis and another with a 20-yard scramble on third-and-10.
• Central Missouri made it 3-for-3 on scoring drives as Devante Turner did most of the heavy lifting. He scored on a 41-yard pass from Jeremy Hunt and totaled 60 of the Mules 75 yards on the drive with 19 rushing yards.
• First play of the second quarter is when Lindenwood got on the board. Cade Brister ran in from four-yards out and it was 17-7. 
• Following a Hunt interception, the Mule defense responded with a three-and-out, but a fumble on the ensuing punt return gave the Lions the ball right back at the UCM 23 yard line. They made it a three-point game with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Brister to Erik Henneman.
• UCM answered 60 seconds later, getting back on top by 10, 24-14. Turner returned the kickoff 45 yards to the Lindenwood 44 yard line. After a penalty made it 1st-and-25, Hunt found Kyrion Parker in the endzone for a 35-yard score. 
• On the first possession of the second half, the Lions drove 61 yards and used 7:16 of clock time getting inside the Mules five-yard line, but Duane Clayton came up with an interception to kill the drive. 
• After the Mules were forced to punt, Lindenwood drove back into Mule territory and this time found the endzone as Brister once again hit Henneman, this time from 13 yards out, making it 24-21 after three quarters.
• The Mules once again responded making it a 10-point game, 31-21. They needed just six plays and 2:12 to score. Turner found the endzone again, this time on a six-yard rush on the first play of the fourth quarter.
• UCM's bend-but-don't-break defense was up to the task once again. Despite being on the field for 17 plays and 6:49, the Lions came away empty when Barrett Foley missed a 32-yard field goal off the upright.
• Lindenwood again made it a three-point game, 31-28, with just 1:10 left to play thanks to a 16-yard touchdown. With no timeouts remaining, they attempted an onside kick that was grabbed by UCM. Two kneel-downs later and the clock read zeroes.

It Was Over When...
• Lindenwood had to go for an onside kick with 1:10 left in the game and no timeouts. Shae Wyatt came up big with the recovery and UCM was able to run out the clock from there.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Jeremy Hunt went 12-for-17 for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
• Devante Turner rushed 17 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. He added a 41-yard TD reception.
• Koby Wilkerson also scored on the ground. He totaled 85 yards on 14 carries.
• Kyrion Parker was the Mules leading receiver with 70 yards on four catches and a touchdown.
• Seth Hebert caught five balls for 63 yards.
• Kyle Bradley went 4-for-7 at quarterback and rushed eight times for 31 yards.
• Tommy Carter led the Mule defense with 12 tackles. Dylan Albertson added 11.
• Duane Clayton had the Mules only turnover with an interception.

For the Lions
• Cade Brister finished 29-for-53 for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team with 100 yards on the ground and another score.
• Cameron Sanders rushed nine times for 47 yards and caught eight passes for 79 yards.
• Erik Henneman also caught eight passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns.
• Grady Daniels made 10 stops on defense with 0.5 for loss.

News and Notes
• The win is the second in a row for the Mules, their second time this season winning back-to-back games.
• It's also their first road win of the season.
• The Mules move to 8-0 all-time against the Lions.
• Cental Missouri has scored exactly 31 points against the Lions in three of their last four wins.
• Devante Turner's rushing touchdown was the 24th of his career, moving him into a tie for eighth place all-time at UCM.
• The Mules 23:50 time of possession was their lowest this season.

Up Next
• The Mules finish the regular season against Northwest Missouri at home next Saturday, Nov. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. UCM will also celebrate Senior Day on the field prior to kickoff.