TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Sept. 12, 2019) - The opening game of the season for Central Missouri Mules Football came down to the final minutes. Their second game, was over in a matter of minutes. The Mules dominated on both sides of the ball en route to a 70-7 blowout of Northeastern State. With the win, the Mules move to 2-0 on the season.
How It Happened
• Quick strike offense was the name of the game for Central Missouri. They scored 10 touchdowns, six of them in less than two minutes.
• The Mules recorded more than 500 yards for the second straight week, coming close to 600 with 592 yards of offense. The RiverHawks were only able to gain 166 yards.
• Turnovers were even with the Mules throwing two interceptions, but also forcing two fumbles.
• The only stat the Mules didn't dominate - time of possession. Northeastern State held on to the ball for 33:12, while the Mule offense was on the field for just 26:48.
• Central Missouri was brilliant on third downs converting 7-of-11 and going 2-of-3 on fourth downs. NSU was just 4-for-17 on their third down attempts.
• The Mules doubled the RiverHawks in first downs, 24-12, but it could have been much more. UCM averaged 8.5 yards per play, picking up huge chunks of yards at a time.
• UCM needed just two plays to score starting off the game.
Brook Bolles found
Cameron Saunders for nine yards on the games first play, then hit
Shae Wyatt for a 60-yard catch and run and the games first score.
• Two possessions later it was 14-0 Mules. A seven-play, 47-yard drive was capped when Bolles hit Saunders from 11 yards out.
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Deven Smith jumped on an NSU fumble inside the RiverHawks 20 to give the Mules excellent field position and set up UCM's third score of the opening frame. After a penalty moved the ball back to the NSU 27, Bolles hit
Koby Wilkerson who curled out of the backfield and turned upfield and into the endzone.
• Before the quarter ended, the RiverHawks had their only score of the game, a four-yard rush from Kobe Bryer.
• Three scores in a quarter is a lot, but UCM outdid themselves in the second. The Mules possessed the ball six times and scored touchdowns on five of them.
• It started again with Wilkerson. The Mules drove 70 yards on six plays in just 1:17. Wilkerson rushed for 42 yards on the drive including a four-yard score.
• The Mules again had a short field and needed just 1:05 and four plays to make it 35-7. Bolles threw to
Ryan Devore in the back of the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown.
• Another fumble, this time forced and recovered by
Carter Nicoli gave UCM the ball back on the NSU 11.
Devante Turner took the handoff and found the endzone one play later, 42-7 Mules.
• Central Missouri scored twice more in the final five minutes of the half. Bolles decided to take one himself. After a 48-yard completion to
Jalen Marsalis, Bolles ran it in from 30 yards out and a 49-7 lead.
• Just before the half, backup quarterback
Kyle Bradley had been deployed and he got in on the scoring fun. On fourth-and-five, Bradley connected with
Ryan Devore for a 36 yard touchdown as UCM led 56-7 at the half.
• With a storm looming, both teams were willing to run the clock down in the second half. The Mules added two scores to get to 70, this time on long drives. The first was a
Salvatore Garozzo one-yard run to finish off a 12-play, 71-yard drive in the third. In the fourth, Bradley took it himself from nine yards out to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive.
It Was Over When...
• ...
Shae Wyatt scored from 60 yards out just 23 seconds into the game. The Mules, who struggled on the road last season, put the RiverHawks away early with 21 first-quarter points and 56 in the first half.
Mules Stat Leaders
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Brook Bolles totaled five touchdowns, four through the air and one on the ground. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 246 yards while totaling 45 yards on the ground.
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Kyle Bradley went 6-of-9 throwing the ball for 114 yards and a score. He added a rushing touchdown on 14 yards.
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Ryan Devore was the only Mule to haul in two touchdowns. He caught two passes for 43 yards and two touchdowns.
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Roosevelt Abram was the Mules leading rusher gaining 62 yards all in the second half.
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Koby Wilkerson rushed four times for 43 yards and a touchdown,
Salvatore Garozzo seven carries for 25 yards and a touchdown,
Devante Turner had a TD with five carries for 18 yards.
• Wilkerson added 27 yards and a touchdown through the air.
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Jalen Marsalis hauled in four passes for a game-high 98 yards.
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Shae Wyatt had just two receptions, but they went for 88 yards including a 60-yard touchdown.
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Cameron Saunders also caught four balls for 51 yards and a touchdown.
• Four Mules picked up sacks:
Carter Nicoli,
Jacob Wiggins,
Zack Aschemann and
Javon Kirk.
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Caleb Hentges and
Cameroon Clay led the defense with six tackles each.
For the RiverHawks
• Jake Pruitt was 14-for-25 for 93 yards throwing the ball.
• Kobe Bryer ran three times for 27 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 23 yards.
• Kevin Jackson ran 13 times for 24 yards and caught three passes for 26.
• Courtland Clark had a game-high eight tackles.
• Elijah Wallace and Eli Harvey each recorded a sack.
News and Notes
• The Mules are starting out 2-0 for the first time since 2016 and just the second time under Coach
Jim Svoboda.
• Central Missouri's 49-point halftime lead was the largest lead ever at the half under Coach Svoboda.
• Nine different players scored either a rushing or receiving touchdown.
• UCM went over 500 yards of total offense for the second time this season.
• It is the first time the Mules have scored 70 points since October, 2017 against Missouri Southern (71 points) and the second time under Coach Svoboda.
• Eight different Mule receivers caught at least one pass.
• Central Missouri has won seven straight against NSU dating back to 2013 and now trail the all-time series by one, 8-7.
• Four of the Mules touchdowns were scored in less than 60 seconds.
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Brook Bolles moved into the top-10 all-time at UCM for career touchdowns. He is now 10th with 33 and four shy of ninth place. He also moved to seventh on the all-time total offense list, now with 5,422.
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Devante Turner is also climbing up some career categories. His rushing touchdown gave him 25 which puts him in sole possession of eighth place, two behind a tie for fifth.
Up Next
• The Mules will stay on the road one more week when they take on Missouri Western next Saturday, Sept. 21. The Griffons are 1-1 after defeating Fort Hays State 28-17 in Hays, Kan.
