Bell's Interception Seals Win for Mules

EMPORIA, Kan. (Oct. 19, 2019) - No. 14 Central Missouri Mules Football survived a scare Saturday afternoon in the Flint Hills. UCM's defense came up big time and time again, none bigger than a fourth quarter interception return for a touchdown to walk out of Emporia with a 34-27 win and move to 7-0 on the season.

How it Happened
• Central Missouri's bend-but-don't break defense allowed just seven second-half points and stopped the Hornets three times on third downs. 
• The Mules outgained the Hornets 461-456 in total offense. UCM threw for 341 yards and rushed for 120 yards.
• The Hornets controlled the ball for 31:52, including 16:54 of the second half. 
• Turnovers played a big factor with the Mules losing the ball three times and Hornets twice. The Mules turned both turnovers into touchdowns. 
• The very first play could have gone for a Mule touchdown as tight end Zach Davidson got behind the defense, but he wasn't able to haul in Bolles' pass that sailed just outside his outstretched arms. The Mules eventually settled for a 29-yard Chris Diddle field goal and a 3-0 lead.
• After UCM forced the Hornets to punt, the Mules got the ball back, but three plays into the drive, miscommunication on a handoff between Bolles and Koby Wilkerson ended up with the ball on the ground and the Hornets on top of it. The very next play, Rasheed Noel took an end-around 45 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 Hornets lead.
• The Hornet defense forced a three-and-out and the Mules to punt, but the Mules struck a bit of good fortune. The punt hit a Hornet blocker in the foot and it kicked right to Kolesen Crane who recovered it to give the ball right back to the Mules. With the short field, the Mules handed off to Wilkerson who did most of the work. He rushed four times on the drive for 32 yards including a three-yard touchdown. After one, UCM led 10-7.

• Emporia State dinked-and-dunked their way down the field on their next drive and on 3rd-and-2 Calvin Boyce rushed it in from five yards out for a 13-10 lead after the missed extra point.
• One possession later, the Mules tied it up as Chris Diddle hit his second field goal of the game, this time from 40 yards out to match a career-high. 
• The two teams traded punts for a bit which eventually set the Mules up with the ball near midfield. It took just six plays for the Mules to hit the endzone as Bolles threaded the needle to Zach Davidson in the corner for a 20-13 lead.
• Looking for one more touchdown before the half, Bolles was picked off by Lawson Holbert who brought it back 54 yards down to the Mules six-yard-line. Two plays later the Hornets tied the game at 20 which is where we stood at the half.

• The scoring slowed down in the second half. On the first possession, the Hornets drove down to the Mules 25, but failed to come away with points as the defense held strong on a fourth and three. 
• As the teams were trading punts still tied at 20, what may have been the biggest play to that point set up the Mules to take the lead. Punting near his own endzone, Ross Brungardt dropped the snap, then kicked off the side of his foot and Jacob Smirl got a hand on the ball for what ended up being just a seven yard punt. Four plays later Bolles did it himself, running three yards for a touchdown and 26-20 lead.

• Getting late into the fourth the Mules still led 26-20. With the Hornets driving into Mules territory, they were again faced with a fourth down and the Mules defense again came up big stuffing a run to get the ball back. 
• UCM running their four-minute offense were whittling the clock down when disaster struck. Bolles on a quarterback keeper lost the ball and the Hornets jumped on it with 1:54 left to play.
• On second-and-10 Codie Bell made the play of the game picking off Dalton and bringing it back 58 yards for a touchdown. Bolles threw to a receiver eligible Dominick Puni who barreled into the endzone for a two-point conversion and a 34-20 lead with 1:40 left.
• The Hornets didn't quit just yet. They broke the Mules second half shutout with a quick touchdown in 30 seconds to make it a one-score game.
• Needing to recover the on-side kick, the ball was kicked into the chest of Ryan Flournoy who recovered and the Mules escaped with a 34-27 win.

It Was Over When...
• Ryan Flournoy recovered the Hornets onside kick attempt with 1:02 left to play and UCM took three kneel downs as the clock wound down to zero.

Mules Stat Leaders
• Brook Bolles completed 20-of-38 passes for 341 yards and one touchdown.
• Shae Wyatt caught nine passes for 191 yards.
• Koby Wilkerson rushed 11 times for 69 yards and a touchdown.
• Chris Diddle was 2-3 on field goals with a long of 40.
• Zach Davidson caught three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown. He also punted six times averaging 44 yards.
• Jordan Pringle had a game-high-tying 10 tackles.
• Tommy Carter had a sack. 
• Kolesen Crane had seven tackles, half of a sack and a fumble recovery.

For the Hornets
• Dalton Cowan went 36-57 for 313 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Carlos Grace ran 11 ties for 57 yards.
• Rasheed Noel and Calvin Boyce each had a rushing touchdown.
• Noel also caught eight passes for 70 yards.
• Cole Schumacher caught eight passes for 53 yards.
• Wil Amos and Marcellus Edwards each had a receiving touchdown. 
• Jace McDown and Gee Stanley each finished with 10 tackles and half a sack.
• Lawson Holbert had nine tackles and a 54-yard interception return.

News and Notes
• The Mules are 7-0 for the first time since 2002 and just the third time in their history.
• The Mules win, coupled with losses from Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State puts them all alone atop the MIAA standings as the only undefeated left in the league.
• The last Mules interception return for a touchdown came in November of 2016 as both Kolsen Crane and Diaron Rhodes brought back interceptions to the house.
• Brook Bolles surpassed 2,000 passing yards this season and 6,000 yards in his career. He became just the sixth Mule quarterback to ever reach 6,000 yards passing.
• Zach Davidson moves into a tie for fifth all-time for receiving touchdowns in a season with 11. 
• The win is Coach Svoboda's 77th all time at UCM, just one behind Coach Terry Noland for second all-time. 
• Central Missouri has scored at least 30 points in all seven games this season.

Up Next
• Central Missouri returns home next weekend to take on Pittsburg State Saturday, Oct. 26 with a 1 p.m. kickoff.