WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Sept. 19, 2018) - No. 19 Central Missouri Mules Football looks to make it three wins in a row this weekend as they hit the road to Topeka.

OPPONENT: Washburn Ichabods - 1-2

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 - 1 p.m.

WHERE: Topeka, Kan. - Yager Stadium

HOW TO WATCH
• 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 11:50 a.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. 

KICKOFF
• Central Missouri hits the road after spending two straight weeks at home. The Mules will be in Topeka, Kan. for the second straight year to take on the Washburn Ichabods
• The Mules defeated Missouri Western at home last week 51-14, and have now scored more than 50 points in two straight games.
• Washburn's comeback attempt against Fort Hays State fell short last week. The Ichabods trailed 30-10 midway through the fourth quarter and made it a one score game with 1:09 left to play but couldn't convert the on-sides kick.
• In the preseason coaches and media polls, UCM was selected to finish third in both which would match their place from a year ago. 
• At home, Central Missouri was 4-1 last season. and is 34-9 under Coach Svoboda. All time, the Mules are 239-183-13 and 2018 will be their 87th season at Walton Stadium. 
• Washburn was picked to finish seventh this season in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. 

SERIES HISTORY
• Central Missouri owns the all-time series history with a mark of 27-18-2. The Mules have won
the last six meetings and are undefeated (6-0) under coach Jim Svoboda
• Washburn's last win against UCM came back in 2009, a 36-21 win.
• Since 1997, the Mules have won 16-of-19 matchups.
• There have been 13 shutouts in the 46 games played between the two teams.
• Icahbod coach Craig Schurig is just 3-10 lifetime against the Mules.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST WASHBURN
• A high-scoring affair saw the Mules trailing 42-34 at the end of three quarters.
• The Mules though scored four touchdowns in the final 13:23 to take a 62-52 win on the road.
• UCM rushed for 306 yards in the game and five touchdowns. Devante Turner scored three times on the ground.
• The Mules also had four touchdown receptions. Seth Hebert finished the day with five catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns. 

MULES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
• UCM was ranked 18th in the preseason American Football Coaches Association preseason poll. They were one spot below that, 19th in the d2football.com preseason poll. After three weeks not much has changed as the Mules are currently ranked 19th by the AFCA and 16th by d2football.com

ABOUT THE ICHABODS
• Blake Peterson is the Ichabod's main threat both as a passer and as a rusher. He leads the team with 88 net rushing yards and two touchdowns. He is also 43-88 for 608 yards and three touchdowns, however has thrown four interceptions.
• The Ichabod rushing offense is at the bottom of the MIAA averaging just 92.3 yards per game. They do not have a back with more than 100 rushing yards yet this season.
• James Brania-Hopp is the primary target for Peterson. He has 15 receptions for a league-leading 279 receiving yards and a touchdown. 
• Washburn has forced six fumbles thus far this season, but have recovered just three.
• Austin Tillman leads the MIAA with 37 tackles. He also has 1.5 sacks and an interception. 
• Kicker Perry Schmiedeler is 4-5 on field goal attempts with a long of 45.

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 59-25 in conference games under Jim Svoboda.
• The Mules are 6-0 in MIAA games against Missouri Western under Svoboda. 

THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules finished 2017 undefeated at home at 4-0 and are 35-9 at home under Jim Svoboda, and winners of 10 straight.  
• They've started out the 2018 season with two straight wins, scoring 50+ points in both.
• The Mules are 240-183-13 overall and 2018 will be their 87th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.

THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri is 30-17 in road games during the Jim Svoboda era following the 2018 season-opening loss at Fort Hays State. 
• 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 52-8 during the Jim Svoboda era when leading at halftime. UCM led 27-7 at the half against the Grffons on their way to a 51-14 win. 
• The Mules are 11-20 all-time under Coach Svobda when trailing at halftime.

21 AND UP
• UCM is 65-13 under Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 63-7 during the Svoboda era and 37-1 when scoring 40 or more points.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• Central Missouri has scored in 292 straight games and have a chance to reach 300 in 2018.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.

2018 STAT LEADERS
• Central Missouri leads the MIAA and is second in the NCAA in total offense with 571.3 yards per game. Their 86 first downs is also third in Division II
• They are also second in the MIAA and 15th in the NCAA in total defense per game allowing just 259.7 yards per game. 
• Kyrion Parker's 233 receiving yards is fourth in the MIAA. He has one touchdown reception in each of the Mules first three games.
• Jeremy Hunt leads the MIAA with 290 passing yards per game and six touchdown passes
• Alex Langer's 2.0 field goals per game leads the MIAA and is second in Division II. 
• Zach Davidson is third in the MIAA with a punting average of 42.4 yards per kick.
• The Mules are second in the MIAA and 15th in the NCAA converting on 50% of their third down attempts (23-46). They're also 5-6 on fourth down attempts.

MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 562-512-51 (.522) record in 1,125 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.

SVOBODA AT THE HELM
• Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda has a record of 67-29 (.698) 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 .698 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.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Central Missouri has won a combined 215 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured two national championships, two MIAA regular season and two MIAA tournament championships. 
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 161 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won 10 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, women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015, and women's soccer and women's basketball) and 12 national championships overall.
• In 2016-17 and 2017-18, Central Missouri won the first two MIAA's Commissioner's Cup trophy for the conference's top overall athletic department. 

UP NEXT
• The Mules are back home as they take on Missouri Southern Saturday, Sept. 29 with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Walton Stadium.