It's Blackout Saturday for Mules Football vs. Pittsburg State

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 23, 2019) - No. 11 and first-place Central Missouri Football returns home this weekend for their Blackout Game and Military Appreciation Day.

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

WHERE
Warrensburg, Mo. (Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field)

WHEN
Saturday, Oct. 26 - 1 p.m.

ON THE AIR
• The game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler and Joe Moore calling the action and Danielle Sachse on the sidelines. 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.

GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS
• This weekend sees a host of gameday promotions and there is sure to be something for everyone. 
• The Mules will be wearing their all black uniforms Saturday and ask that all fans in attendance also wear black for the Black-Out game. 
• It is also Military Appreciation Day. All active and retired military members and their families receive free admission to the game.
• Weather permitting, there will also be a special B2 flyover during pregame. 
• UCM Sodexo is holding a food drive. Fans who bring two or more non-perishable food items, or $3 cash will receive a free box of popcorn at concession stands. All proceeds go to the UCM Campus Cupboard. 
•As a part of the Western Missouri Medical Center "Day of Giving" campaign, hospital representatives will be on hand to collect donations which will go towards the Advancing Cancer Care, Closer to Home project. The project provides WMMC with medical equipment for cancer treatment and comfort suites. Donation sites will be set up at all three entrances to the stadium as well as at the Mule Train tailgate.

KICKOFF
• Central Missouri hosts Pittsburg State for Military Appreciation Day
• Central Missouri puts their 7-0 record on the line this weekend as they play host to the 5-2 Pittsburg State Gorillas.
• Central Missouri finished 2018 5-6 after a rash of injuries, missing the postseason for the first time in two years. They are off to a 7-0 start in 2019 after a 34-17 win at Emporia State last weekend.
• Pittsburg State comes in at 5-2 this season. They started off 5-0 but have lost their last two, vs. Northwest Missouri and a 42-41 loss at home to Fort Hays State. 
• This will be the fourth Mules home game of the season. They are 3-0 after wins at over Fort Hays State, Washburn and Central Oklahoma
• Pittsburg State was picked to finish 3rd in both the MIAA preseason coaches poll and media poll. They finished 8-3 a year ago. 

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 43-11-2 in 56 meetings. 
• Things have evened up as of late. The Mules are 5-5 against the Gorillas in their last 10 matchups.
• The Mules three-game winning streak from 2015-17 was their first ever against PSU. 

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST PITTSBURG STATE
• The Mules scored first last season in Pittsburg, but after that it was all Pittsburg. 
• The Gorillas scored 34 straight and led 48-14 before taking a 20-point win, 48-28.
• PSU used a strong ground game rushing for 438 yards and five touchdowns.
• Kyle Bradley was 11-16 from 185 yards with a touchdown.
• Zach Davidson caught a 61 yard TD and had five catches for 87 yards. 

MULES IN THE POLLS
• UCM moved up to 11th in this week's AFCA top-25 rankings. They are also ranked 13th by d2football.com
• The Mules were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA preseason media poll and fifth by the MIAA coaches.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
• Pittsburg State comes to Warrensburg on a two-game losing streak, their first two losses of the season. The Gorillas suffered a 38-17 loss to Northwest Missouri in Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium before losing at home last week, 42-41. The Gorillas missed a 38-yard field goal which would have given them the lead with 1:03 left.
• The Gorillas have been a different team after halftime. PSU has scored 293 total points, 188 coming in the first half and just 105 in the second.
• Mak Sexton has been the primary quarterback this season. He's thrown 120 passes and completed 71 with seven touchdowns but also with five interceptions. 
• Brandon Mlekus has also seen time at QB but is much more of a dual threat. He's the team's leading rusher with 425 yards on 92 carries with three touchdowns. He's completed 21-of-44 passes for 582 yards and six touchdowns
• The Pitt State defense is fourth in the MIAA allowing just 24.1 points per game. They allow just 148.6 yards through the air which is the best pass defense in the league.
• Despite his miss in the final minute vs. FHSU, Jared Vincent has been one of the best kickers in the MIAA making 16-of-18 attempts with a long of 47. 
• Tucker Horak has scored seven rushing touchdowns this season.
• Lorenzo West is second in the MIAA in receiving with 687 yards and six touchdowns. He averages 24.5 yards per catch, third in the league.

THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules finished 5-6 in conference play in 2018 and placed seventh in the league standings. 
• UCM now stands at 69-30 in conference games under Jim Svoboda after their win Saturday and are 7-0 this season.

THE MULES AT HOME
• The Mules finished 2018 4-2 at home and are 39-11 at home under Jim Svoboda.
• UCM went undefeated at home in 2017, 4-0. 
• The Mules are 3-0 at home with wins over Fort Hays State, Washburn and Central Oklahoma.
• The Mules are 247-185-13 overall and 2019 will be their 88th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.

THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri is 35-20 in road games during the Jim Svoboda era following their 34-27 win last weekend at Emporia State.
• The Mules finished 2018 at 1-4 away from Warrensburg after going 5-2 on the road in 2017.

WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
• The Mules are 59-8 during the Jim Svoboda era when leading at halftime. 
• The Mules are 13-25 all-time under Coach Svoboda when trailing at halftime.

21 AND UP
• UCM is 75-18 under Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 73-7 during the Svoboda era and 44-1 when scoring 40 or more points.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• Central Missouri has scored in 307 straight games. 
• They got a scare in the 2018 regular season finale, as they were held scoreless through the first three quarters before scoring 21.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.

SIZZLING SECONDS
• Central Missouri leads the MIAA scoring 356 total points.
• Of those 356 points, 118 have come in the second quarter alone. 
• The Mules have scored 60% of their points in the second and third quarters.

2019 MULES TEAM LEADERS
• The Mules still lead the nation in scoring at 50.9 points per game.
• UCM is first in total offense with 563.1 yards per game.
• Mules are just one of 14 teams in Division II still with an unbeaten record.
• Converting on 53% of their third downs, the Mules are sixth in the nation.

2019 MULES INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
• Brook Bolles leads Division II in touchdown passes with 25. He is third in yards at 2,213 and first in yards per attempt at 11.08.
• Tight End Zach Davidson is one off of the NCAA lead for receiving touchdowns with 22.
• Davidson and Shae Wyatt go 1 and 3 in Division II in yards per reception at 26.43 and 24.90.
• Devante Turner's 560 rushing yards are fifth in the MIAA. His seven touchdowns are second. He leads the MIAA and is fifth in Division II with 169.57 all-purpose yards per game.
• The Mules lead the MIAA in sacks per game and are fourth nationally with 4.14. Ubong Udom's 0.86 per game lead the league. His 0.57 forced fumbles per game share the national lead. 

MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 572-517-51 (.524) record in 1,140 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.

SEASON STARTS
• The last time the Mules started out 7-0 was in 2002.
• This is the first time under Coach Svoboda UCM has started 7-0. 
• Central Missouri has only started out 8-0 once before, in 2001.
• UCM is one of 25 teams in Division II still unbeaten and one of three in the MIAA. 

GETTING OFFENSIVE
• Central Missouri has scored at least 30 points in all seven games this season.
• UCM has reached 70 points twice. The Mules had only scored 70 one time under Coach Svoboda before doing so twice in 2019.

MAKING HISTORY
• Quarterback Brook Bolles is already all over the Mules record book. So far this season, he has set UCM records with 7 touchdown passes (at Missouri Southern) and 506 yards passing (at Missouri Western).
• Bolles' favorite target during his 7 touchdown pass game was Zach Davidson. Davidson caught four of Bolles' seven touchdowns, a feat that has only been done once before, in 1960.

SVOBODA AT THE HELM
• Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda has a record of 77-34 (.694) 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, one win behind Terry Noland (78) for second all-time.
• Svoboda's .694 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 94 school offensive records and 21 MIAA offensive records during Svoboda's tenure.
• Under Coach Svoboda, UCM players have earned 24 All-American awards and 131 All-MIAA awards. 
• Since entering the league, the Mules are the No. 1 team in total offense with 462 yards per game, and No. 2 in scoring offense with 36 points per game. UCM's five postseason appearances are also the second most in the league, and the 30 wins is the third most in the MIAA.
• 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 219 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured two regional championships, and two MIAA Championships - men's indoor and outdoor track and the baseball regular season and tournament championship
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 165 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. 

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 261 student-athletes named to the 2018-19 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 33 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned all-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 23 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had five student-athletes earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in their respective sports and nine Academic All-District. 
• All-time UCM is third in NCAA-II with 119 Academic All-Americans.
• Mason Janvrin was named the CoSIDA Baseball Academic All-American of the Year and an Elite 90 Award winner at the National Championships. 

MULES IN THE PROS
• There is one former Mules currently on an NFL roster. Tight end Delanie Walker is in his 14th season in the league and his seventh with the Tennessee Titans. Walker signed a four-year deal with the Titans, and a two-year extension through 2020, after playing in Super Bowl XLVII with San Francisco.
• Walker finished 2017 with 74 receptions for 807 yards and three touchdowns, and has 479 catches for 5,621 yards with 34 touchdowns in his career.
• In 2015, he caught 94 passes for 1,088 yards, his first career 1,000 receiving yard season, and six touchdowns and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He has since made the Pro Bowl three consecutive years 2015-17.
• Walker was injured during the season opener in 2018 and placed on injured reserve, missing the rest of the season. He's off to a fast start in 2019 with 17 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Walker was inducted into the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2015.
• Former Mule quarterback Garrett Fugate was just recently drafted by the New York Guardians of the newly formed XFL.