UCM defense vs. Emporia State
Andrew Mather Photography

Football

No. 11 Mules Football Heads to Missouri Southern for Saturday Afternoon MIAA Contest

Game 9: No. 11 Central Missouri (7-1, 7-1 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (4-4, 3-4 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 28 | 2:00 p.m. | Joplin, Mo. (Fred G. Hughes Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Joe Moore, color; Brinkley Beever, sideline)
TV: MIAA Network (PPV) 
 
SCENE SETTER
  • No. 11-ranked Central Missouri Mules football (7-1, 7-1 MIAA) is scheduled to travel to Joplin, Mo., for a MIAA contest at Missouri Southern (4-4, 3-4 MIAA) Saturday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
  • Central Missouri, winners of its last five games, is coming off a record-breaking 77-27 victory over then No. 23-ranked Emporia State in the annual UCM Homecoming Game Saturday, Oct. 21, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. 4
  • UCM is ranked No. 11 in the most recent D2football.com Top-25 Poll and No. 15 in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll going into Saturday.
  • Through eight games, Central Missouri still leads the nation in passing offense with an average of 435.5 yards per game, first downs with 252 and total offense with an average of 603.1 yards per game. On the defensive side of the football, the Mules are tied for the Division II lead in passes intercepted with 16.
  • With eight games in the books, quarterback Zach Zebrowski continues to lead NCAA Division II in passing yards (3,259), passing touchdowns (38) and total offense (439.5 yards per game) while receiver Arkell Smith leads Division II in receiving TDs (12) and is third in receiving yards (913) and running back Marcellous Hawkins is fourth in rushing TDs (13).
  • 2023 marks the 126th season in Mules football history.
  • In the MIAA Football Preseason Polls, UCM was picked seventh in both the preseason coaches' and media polls while Missouri Southern was voted eighth in the media poll and 10th in the coaches' poll.
ZZ ON A ROLL...
  • Mules quarterback Zach Zebrowski has thrown for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in all eight of UCM's games so far this season. The 300 yards in at least eight games is a new UCM single-season record. He's reached at least 400 yards passing four times, including a UCM and MIAA record 615 yards against No. 23 Emporia State Oct. 21. Zebrowski has also thrown for five TDs six times this season, including a Central Missouri and MIAA record eight touchdowns vs. Emporia State.
  • He also set a new UCM and MIAA record for total offense in the 77-27 win over Emporia State with 673 yards (615 passing, 58 rushing).
  • Zebrowski has thrown a nation-best 38 passing TDs this season and has only been intercepted three times.
  • He also leads NCAA Division II in passing yards (3,259) and total offense (439.5 yards per game) through eight contests.
  • Zebrowski leads all of NCAA Football (FBS, FCS, II, III) in both passing yards and total offense going into Saturday's game at Missouri Southern.
ON THE AIR
  • Saturday's game will be broadcast live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action, Joe Moore providing color commentary and Brinkley Beever on the sidelines.
  • The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's MIAA Network 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.
UCM LEADERS
  • Offense: Through eight games, the Mules are led offensively by quarterback Zach Zebrowski (264-of-389, 3 INT, 3259 yds., 38 TD, 89 LG, 407.4 yds./game), receivers Arkell Smith (63 rec., 913 yds., 12 TD, 86 LG, 114.1 yds./game), Jack Pospisil (41 rec., 524 yds., 5 TD, 64 LG, 65.5 yds./game), Demarcus Gregory (35 rec., 369 yds., 3 TD, 40 LG, 46.1 yds/game), Michael Fitzgerald (22 rec., 336 yds., 3 TD, 40 LG, 42 yds./game) and Price Morgan (32 rec., 317 yds., 5 TD, 22 LG, 39.6 yds./game), and running back Marcellous Hawkins (102 carries, 729 yds., 13 TD, 84 LG, 91.1 yds./game).
  • Defense: UCM is paced defensively through eight games by defensive backs Curtis Appleton II (45 tackles [25 solo, 20 asst], 1 INT, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery) and Wyryor Noil (3.0-8 TFL, 5 INT, 12 pass breakups), and linebackers Cale Miller (46 tackles [18 solo, 28 asst], 4.5-17 TFL, 1.0-9 sacks, 1 INT), Garrett Hormann (34 tackles [14 solo, 20 asst], 2.0-8 TFL, 1.0-6 sacks, 1 INT, 2 QBH) and Isaac Montgomery (33 tackles [11 solo, 22 asst.], 2.0-6 TFL, 1.0-5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble).
  • Special Teams: After eight contests, the Central Missouri special teams unit is led by punter Ethan Brown (23 punts, 879 yards, 38.2 average, 51 long, 2 touchback, 12 fair catches, 10 inside 20, 1 50+) and place-kicker Luke Dobson (4-5 FG, 41 long, 36-36 PAT).
NATIONAL HONORS FOR ZEBROWSKI
  • Zach Zebrowski earned D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week honors Tuesday, Oct. 24. Zebrowski, who was also voted the MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week, rewrote the UCM and MIAA single-game offensive record books in the Mules' 77-27 win over then No. 23-ranked Emporia State Saturday, Oct. 21, throwing for a UCM and MIAA record 615 passing yards and a UCM and MIAA record eight touchdowns. He also set a new Central Missouri and MIAA record in total offense with 673 yards (615 passing, 58 rushing).
 
WEEKLY HONORS NEW FACES
  • The 2023 Mules feature 54 true freshmen and 24 transfers.
  • UCM also has eight new coaches on the sidelines for 2023 in Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach Hayden Hawk, Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Justin Bane, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach Greg Jones, Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Stephen Franklin, Offensive Recruiting Coordinator/Running Backs Coach Adrian Duncan, Defensive Recruiting Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach Brian "BK" Smith, Offensive Player Personnel/Tight Ends Coach Chace Gadapee and Assistant Special Teams Coordinator/Kickers, Punters and Snappers Coach Terrance Dennis. These
  • Central Missouri's eight new coaches join returning coaches Josh Lamberson (Head Coach), Joe Holtzclaw (Co-Offensive Coordinator Run Game/Offensive Line Coach), Dana Chambers (Defensive Line Coach/Alumni & Community Engagement Coordinator) and Kevin Kim (Defensive Player Personnel/Inside Linebackers Coach).
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday's contest against Missouri Southern in Joplin will be meeting number 44 in the all-time series going back to 1973. Central Missouri leads the overall series, 25-16-2, but is tied with the Lions, 9-9-1, on games played in Joplin. Last season, the Mules defeated Missouri Southern in Warrensburg, 20-17.
LAST TIME OUT: RECORDS FALL AS NO. 16 MULES RACE PAST NO. 23 EMPORIA STATE IN HOMECOMING GAME, 77-27
  • Records fell as No. 16-ranked Central Missouri Mules football rolled past the No. 23-ranked Emporia State Hornets, 77-27, in the annual UCM Homecoming Game Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Quarterback Zach Zebrowski established new Central Missouri and MIAA single-game records for passing touchdowns with eight, passing yards with 615 and total offense with 673 yards. He went 31-of-51 for his record-breaking 615 yards through the air and added 58 yards on nine carries on the ground.
  • Running back Marcellous Hawkins added a career-best 183 rushing yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns while receiver Arkell Smith tallied 137 yards on five catches with three touchdowns. Zion Perry also eclipsed 100 yards receiving in the victory with 119 yards on four catches, including a touchdown.
  • Zach Phipps (2), Michael Fitzgerald (1) and Demarcus Gregory (1) also posted receiving touchdowns for Central Missouri.
  • For the game, UCM set new program and MIAA records for total yards with 976 and passing yards with 659. Central Missouri outgained Emporia State, 976 to 451, including a 659-367 advantage in passing and 317-84 edge in rushing.
  • The Mules scored a combined 56 points in the first and second quarter to open up a 56-27 halftime lead over the Hornets and never looked back the remainder of the game enroute to the win.
  • Defensively for Central Missouri, Garrett Hormann tallied a team-best nine tackles while Wyryor Noil and Jaden Dawson both had interceptions.
LAST TIME OUT VS. MISSOURI SOUTHERN
  • Arkell Smith had 102 receiving yards and Cedric Case tallied 274 yards on 28 passes leading the Central Missouri Mules football team to a 20-17 victory over the Missouri Southern Lions in the 2022 University of Central Missouri Homecoming Game Saturday afternoon, Oct. 15, 2022, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Smith tallied his 102 yards through the air on eight catches, including a seven-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter while Case went 28-for-36 with a TD and a long of 29 yards for his 274 yards on the day.
  • Xavier Jackson added 67 rushing yards on 18 carries, and freshman Marcellous Hawkins compiled 64 yards on nine carries and scored on a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, rounding out the Central Missouri offensive leaders.
  • Kingsley Ayeni, IV, Diondre Glover, Cale Miller and David Olajiga all had a team-best five tackles. Miller added a two-yard sack and two tackles-for-loss for three yards while Glover reeled in an interception and had four pass breakups. Jaden Dawson forced a fumble and Azaiah Bello had a pair of fumble recoveries, and Isaac Montgomery posted a six-yard tackle-for-loss, wrapping up the UCM defensive top performers in the victory.
  • For the game, the Mules outgained the Lions, 427-316, including a 153-145 advantage in rushing yards and 274-171 edge in passing yards. UCM also controlled the possession game, posting a 35:31 to 24:29 in time-of-possession.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 259-187-13 overall and 2023 is their 91st season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 8-2 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 333 straight games.
  • The streak dates to week three of the 1991 season.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
  • In the 126 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 591-534-51 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 four 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.
UP NEXT
  • Central Missouri hosts Fort Hays State in the final home game of the regular season Saturday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. The game will be Senior Day, Salute to Veterans Day and Youth Day.
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Players Mentioned

Xavier Jackson

#0 Xavier Jackson

RB
5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Diondre Glover

#29 Diondre Glover

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kingsley Ayeni, IV

#4 Kingsley Ayeni, IV

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Azaiah Bello

#2 Azaiah Bello

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

P
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Jaden Dawson

#18 Jaden Dawson

DB
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Luke Dobson

#43 Luke Dobson

K
5' 10"
Sophomore
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

RB
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Xavier Jackson

#0 Xavier Jackson

5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Diondre Glover

#29 Diondre Glover

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB
Kingsley Ayeni, IV

#4 Kingsley Ayeni, IV

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Azaiah Bello

#2 Azaiah Bello

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
P
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Jaden Dawson

#18 Jaden Dawson

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Luke Dobson

#43 Luke Dobson

5' 10"
Sophomore
K
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

5' 11"
Sophomore
RB