Trevor Twehous
Andrew Mather Photography

Football

Mules Football Hosts No. 22 Washburn for Get the Red Out, Military Appreciation & Home Opener Thursday

Game 2: Central Missouri (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) vs. No. 22 Washburn (1-0, 1-0 MIAA)
Thursday, Sept. 8 | 7 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TV: MIAA Network (PPV)
Get the Red Out, Military Appreciation Night

Live Stats | Live Audio | Game Notes (PDF)
SCENE SETTER
  • University of Central Missouri Mules football is scheduled to open the home portion of its 2022 schedule Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field against the 22nd-ranked Washburn Ichabods. Thursday's game is the annual "Get the Red Out" contest and Military Appreciation Night. 
  • Thursday's contest will be the first home game as head coach for first season Central Missouri head coach Josh Lamberson. Although this will be his first game as head coach in Warrensburg, Lamberson is no stranger to Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field, as he served as the offensive coordinator under former Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda from 2010-14.
  • UCM enters the contest at 0-1 overall after falling at Pittsburg State Thursday, Sept. 2, in Pittsburg, Kan., 21-10, while Washburn is 1-0 on the season after defeating Lincoln at home, 45-3, last Thursday.
  • 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. Washburn was voted fourth in both the coaches' and media polls.
ON THE AIR
  • Thursday's game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar, the new 107.9 FM and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler and Joe Moore calling the action 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: Through one game, Central Missouri is paced offensively by redshirt sophomore quarterback Cedric Case (24-for-41, 0 INT, 179 yds., 1 TD, 22 lg, 179.0 avg., 30 yds. rushing) and redshirt junior receiver Arkell Smith (4 rec., 39 yds., 9.8 avg., 1 TD, 15 lg).
  • Defense: With game down, the UCM defense is paced by redshirt senior Travis DeGrate (9 tackles, 1.5 TFL/5 yds., 0.5 sacks/4 yds.) and redshirt sophomore Noah Blair (9 tackles).
  • Redshirt junior David Olajiga has a blocked field-goal and redshirt freshman Alex Millspaugh has a fumble recovery.
  • Special Teams: Redshirt junior kicker Sam Knowlton is 1-for-1 in field goals converted, hitting a 42-yarder at Pittsburg State...Redshirt freshman punter Ethan Brown had eight punts for 317 yards with an average distance of 39.6 yards and a long of 46 at Pittsburg State.
A LOOK AT THE 2022 MULES
  • Mules football welcomes back 12 starters from 2021, including All-MIAA offensive linemen Dan Sunderman and Kyle Linville, and wide receiver Arkell Smith.
  • Sunderman and Linville make up an experienced returning core for the UCM offensive line, with 2021 starters Ty Reynolds and Gabe Clark also back for 2022. All four started all 11 games for Central Missouri in 2021.
  • Smith is coming off a standout season in 2021, rolling up 673 yards on 42 catches with eight TDs in 11 games. Other returning wide receivers who had at least 10 catches in 2021 include Trevor Twehous (25 rec., 316 yds., 2 TD), Zion Perry (15 rec., 284 yds., 2 TD) and Malik Clayborn (13 rec., 136 yds., 2 TD).
  • Redshirt sophomore Cedric Case takes over as the starting quarterback for Central Missouri in 2022. Case, a native of Lincoln, Neb., saw action in two games for the Mules last season, going 10-for-16 with no interceptions, 159 yards and a touchdown. In Central Missouri's 77-35 win at Lincoln, Case compiled a career-best 117 yards, going 4-for-5 with an 85-yard TD pass to Zion Perry.
  • On the ground, UCM welcomes back one running back who had at least 35 carries last season in JD Kolb (36 att., 127 net yds., 2 TD).
  • Defensively, UCM welcomes back 2021 starters Travis DeGrate (40 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 FR, 3 FF), Cooper Crane (31 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 FR), Clay Griffin (24 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack), David Olajiga (18 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FR) and Azaiah Bello (8 tackles, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups).
  • On special teams, the Mules return 2021 starting punter Josh Reynolds (52 punts, 1,877 yards, 36.1 avg., 64 lg, 0 blk), kicker Sam Knowlton, long snapper Trace Staton and punt returner Jai Haynes.
SERIES HISTORY
  • 2022 will mark the 51st meeting in the all-time series between Central Missouri and Washburn dating all the way back to 1902...UCM leads the series, 28-20-2...The two teams first played in 1902 with Washburn tallying a 6-0 victory.
LAST TIME OUT VS. WASHBURN
  • Washburn tallied 485 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns to help the Ichabods turn back Mules football, 29-10, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, at Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kan.
  • Making his season debut for the Mules, redshirt junior quarterback Logan Twehous went 10-for-21 for 67 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a team-best 33 yards.
  • Devante Turner rushed for 23 yards on eight carries, while Koby Wilkerson added 14 yards on nine carries and caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Twehous in the second quarter.
  • Wilkerson led Central Missouri's receiving efforts, tallying 33 yards and a TD on five catches, while Zion Perry compiled 30 yards on two catches.
  • Defensively, Codie Bell paced UCM, making nine total tackles and tallying an interception, and Chima Dunga and Deven Smith each had eight tackles. Azaiah Bello and Brian Adkins also had interceptions in the contest.
  • Washburn quarterback Mitch Schurig went 19-for-34 for 249 yards and three touchdowns, pacing the Ichabods.
ABOUT THE ICHABODS
  • The Washburn Ichabods are 1-0 overall and ranked No. 22 in the latest D2Football.com Poll going into the week. Washburn rolled to a 45-3 win over Lincoln in its season opener Thursday, Sept. 2, in Topeka, Kan.
  • In the victory over the Blue Tigers, Washburn quarterback Kellen Simoncic threw for 351 yards and had three touchdowns, going 15-of-21 with a long pass of 69 yards. Running back Tyler Bowden ran for 27 yards with a pair of TDs, and receiver James Letcher, Jr., had five catches for 177 yards and a TD. Defensively, Grant Bruner compiled a team-best 10 tackles while R.J. Mitchell, Jr., had a pair of tackles-for-loss for 11 yards and an eight-yard sack.
  • Washburn is coming off a 9-3 season with a second-place tie in the MIAA standings from 2021 reaching the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2011.
  • The Ichabods were picked fourth in the MIAA preseason media and coaches polls.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
  • UCM is 0-1 in MIAA action entering Thursday's home opener against Washburn after dropping a 21-10 decision at Pittsburg State Sept. 2.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 251-185-13 overall and 2022 will be their 90th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 0-0 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 315 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 580-527-51 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.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
  • Central Missouri has won a combined 233 MIAA conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
  • Last season, UCM captured two regional championships in men's golf and women's soccer, and five MIAA Championships - women's soccer, volleyball (regular season and tournament) and baseball (regular season and tournament).
  • Since 1983, the tenure of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 179 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 in 2017 and 2018) and 12 national championships overall.
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.
UP NEXT
  • The Mules travel to MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State for a contest Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:30 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Mo.
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Players Mentioned

Brian Adkins

#23 Brian Adkins

DB
6' 1"
Senior
Codie Bell

#1 Codie Bell

DB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Deven Smith

#40 Deven Smith

LB
6' 1"
Senior
Devante Turner

#1 Devante Turner

RB
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Logan Twehous

#12 Logan Twehous

QB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Koby Wilkerson

#5 Koby Wilkerson

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Chima Dunga

#0 Chima Dunga

DL
6' 1"
Senior
Azaiah Bello

#2 Azaiah Bello

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
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
Gabe Clark

#77 Gabe Clark

OL
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Brian Adkins

#23 Brian Adkins

6' 1"
Senior
DB
Codie Bell

#1 Codie Bell

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Deven Smith

#40 Deven Smith

6' 1"
Senior
LB
Devante Turner

#1 Devante Turner

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Logan Twehous

#12 Logan Twehous

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Koby Wilkerson

#5 Koby Wilkerson

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Chima Dunga

#0 Chima Dunga

6' 1"
Senior
DL
Azaiah Bello

#2 Azaiah Bello

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
LB
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
Gabe Clark

#77 Gabe Clark

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
OL