UCM Mules offensive lineman Ty Reynolds (51) during an MIAA college football game against the Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) Lions at the Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg, Missouri on October 15, 2022.
Andrew Mather Photography

Football

Saturday Afternoon Tilt vs. Lincoln On Tap for Mules Football

Game 9: Central Missouri (2-6, 2-6 MIAA) vs. Lincoln (0-8, 0-8 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 29 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TV: MIAA Network (PPV)

Live Stats | Live Audio | Game Notes (PDF)
SCENE SETTER
  • Central Missouri Mules football (2-6, 2-6 MIAA) is scheduled to return home to Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field Saturday, Oct. 29, for a 1 p.m. MIAA contest against the Lincoln Blue Tigers (0-8, 0-8 MIAA).
  • UCM is coming off a 27-14 setback at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan., Saturday, Oct. 22, while Lincoln fell to Nebraska Kearney that same day, 66-17, in Jefferson City, Mo.
  • 2022 marks the 125th season in Mules football history.
  • In the MIAA Football Preseason Polls, UCM was picked in a tie for seventh in the coaches' poll and ninth in the media poll. Lincoln was picked last in both polls.
ON THE AIR
  • Saturday's game will be broadcast live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar, the new 107.9 FM and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action, Joe Moore providing color commentary and Corrine Benedict on the sidelines.
  • 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 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.
MULE LEADERS
  • Offense: With eight games in the books, the Mules are paced offensively by redshirt sophomore quarterback Cedric Case (180-of-278 with 7 INT, 1912 yds, 11 TD, 78 long, 239 yds/game, 143 yds rushing, 2 rushing TD), redshirt senior running back Xavier Jackson (38 catches, 446 yds, 1 TD, 55 long, 55.8 receiving yds/game, 77 carries, 223 net yds, 3 TD, 20 long, 27.9 yds/game) and redshirt junior receiver Arkell Smith (39 catches, 564 yds, 6 TD, 78 long, 70.5 yds/game).
  • Defense: Through eight games, UCM is paced defensively by redshirt sophomore defensive back Noah Blair (56 tackles [35 unassisted/21 assisted], 2 TFL/3 yds, 3 INT/83 yds, 4 breakup), redshirt senior linebacker Kingsley Ayeni, IV (42 tackles [21 unassisted, 21 assisted], 2 TFL/6 yds, 2 breakup) and redshirt junior defensive back Diondre Glover (1 INT/0 yds, 9 breakup).
  • Special Teams: Redshirt junior kicker Sam Knowlton is 6-for-8 in field goals converted, hitting a season-long 42-yarder at Pittsburg State...Redshirt freshman punter Ethan Brown has 40 punts for 1,686 yards with an average distance of 42.2 yards and a long of 58. He has placed nine punts inside the 20-yard line and has five punts of at least 50 yards.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE MULES
  • The Fort Hays State Tigers tallied 201 rushing yards to run by Central Missouri Mules football, 27-14, in a MIAA game Saturday, Oct. 22, at Lewis Field Stadium.
  • Arkell Smith paced Central Missouri offensively in the game, compiling 160 receiving yards and scoring a touchdown on 11 catches while Xavier Jackson posted 146 yards through the air on 13 catches.
  • UCM quarterback Cedric Case went 32-for-47 for 333 yards and threw for a pair of TDs but had two interceptions and was sacked twice.
  • Kingsley Ayeni, IV had nine tackles, including seven solo and two assisted tackles, and Travis DeGrate added six tackles, pacing the Central Missouri defense.
  • The Mules outgained the Tiger for the game, 396-358, including a 333-157 advantage in passing yards, but Fort Hays State dominated Central Missouri on the ground, outrushing UCM, 201-63.
  • FHSU also bested UCM in time-of-possession, 33:59 to 26:01.
  • Fort Hays State quarterback Jack Dawson went 18-of-23 with no interceptions and 126 yards and a touchdown and added 89 rushing yards while Adrian Soto rushed for 98 yards on 26 carries with a TD, leading the Tigers.
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday's game against the Lincoln Blue Tigers will mark the 33rd meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1957. The Mules lead the series, 25-7, including an 11-2 advantage in Warrensburg. Last season, UCM rolled to a 77-35 victory over Lincoln in Jefferson City, Mo. The Mules have won the last 20 meetings with the Blue Tigers. Central Missouri's last loss to Lincoln was back in 1978, a 21-6 setback.
LAST TIME OUT VS. LINCOLN
  • University of Central Missouri Mules football rolled up 543 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers in a 77-35 victory at Lincoln Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.
  • Central Missouri scored a season-high 77 points, which is the most total points UCM football has scored in a single game since a 78-0 win at Lincoln in 2006.
  • Logan Twehous tallied five touchdowns, including four passing and one rushing TD, and went 10-for-17 with 266 yards, while Cameron Saunders surpassed 1,000 season receiving yards with 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns on six catches.
  • Koby Wilkerson led Central Missouri on the ground, rushing for 61 yards on 13 carries with a pair of touchdowns.
  • Cooper Crane had a season-best 13 tackles, including eight solo and five assisted as well as four tackles-for-loss for 10 yards, and recovered one of four Blue Tiger fumbles, while Travis DeGrate forced two fumbles and had a 12-yard tackle-for-loss, leading the UCM defense.
  • The Mules jumped on Lincoln from the start of the game, outscoring the Blue Tigers 28-14 in the first quarter and 35-0 in the second quarter, taking control of the contest by halftime, 63-14.
  • UCM passed for 419 yards in the game while holding the Blue Tigers to just 164 yards through the air. The Mules were also a perfect 7-for-7 in the red-zone.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
  • UCM is 2-6 in MIAA action entering Saturday's contest vs. Lincoln.
  • Through eight games, the Mules rank second in the conference in interceptions with nine for 88 yards.
  • Noah Blair is tied for the MIAA lead with three interceptions for 83 yards entering Saturday.
  • Diondre Glover leads the MIAA in pass breakups through eight games with nine.
  • Cedric Case is fourth in the conference in passing 1,912 yards through eight games. He is also fourth in total offense with 2,055 yards and 256.9 yards per game.
  • Arkell Smith is fourth in receiving through eight contests with 564 yards on 39 catches. He is averaging 70.5 yards through the air per game.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 253-186-13 overall and 2022 will be their 90th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 2-1 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 322 straight games.
  • The streak dates to week three of the 1991 season.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
  • In the 124 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 582-532-51 record.
  • The Mules have won 10 or more games four times in the history of the program and have posted 13 seasons of eight or more wins.
  • UCM tied the program-record for wins in a season with 11 in 2019. The Mules also won 11 games in 2010 -- Josh Lamberson's first season as offensive coordinator for UCM.
  • UCM has won or shared 13 MIAA championships in school history with the last coming in 2019.
  • The Mules have qualified for the postseason 10 times in their history, including three trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs, the last coming in 2019.
MULES IN THE PROS
  • Former Mules' All-American tight end Zach Davidson (2016-2020) was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • He marked the 12th Mules football player to be drafted in program history and the first since former UCM standout tight end Delanie Walker in 2006.
  • In program history, 78 Central Missouri football players have either been drafted or signed professional free-agent contracts.
ON THE HORIZON
  • Central Missouri hosts Missouri Western for Senior Day and the final home game of the season Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
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Players Mentioned

Cameron Saunders

#2 Cameron Saunders

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Logan Twehous

#12 Logan Twehous

QB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Koby Wilkerson

#5 Koby Wilkerson

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

DB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

P
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cooper Crane

#16 Cooper Crane

LB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Travis DeGrate

#1 Travis DeGrate

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Xavier Jackson

#0 Xavier Jackson

RB
5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Arkell Smith

#6 Arkell Smith

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Diondre Glover

#29 Diondre Glover

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kingsley Ayeni, IV

#4 Kingsley Ayeni, IV

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Cameron Saunders

#2 Cameron Saunders

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Logan Twehous

#12 Logan Twehous

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Koby Wilkerson

#5 Koby Wilkerson

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
P
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Cooper Crane

#16 Cooper Crane

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
LB
Travis DeGrate

#1 Travis DeGrate

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Xavier Jackson

#0 Xavier Jackson

5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Arkell Smith

#6 Arkell Smith

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Diondre Glover

#29 Diondre Glover

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB
Kingsley Ayeni, IV

#4 Kingsley Ayeni, IV

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
LB