No. 6 Mules Football Travels To No. 3 Harding for NCAA-II Playoffs Second Round Game Saturday

NCAA-II Football Championship Second Round Game
Game 13: No. 6 Central Missouri (11-1) at No. 3 Harding (11-0)
Saturday, Nov. 25 | 1 p.m. | Searcy, Ark. (First Security Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Joe Moore, color; Brinkley Beever, sideline)
TV: NCAA.com (PPV) | NCAA-II Playoff Central | Buy Tickets

SCENE SETTER

No. 6-ranked and MIAA Co-Champion Central Missouri Mules football (11-1) is scheduled to travel to No. 3-ranked and Super Region III top seed Harding (11-0) for a NCAA-II Football Championship second round game Saturday, Nov. 25, at 1 p.m. at First Security Stadium in Searcy, Ark.
UCM is ranked No. 6 in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 7 in the latest D2Football.com poll. The Mules finished the regular season number four in the NCAA-II Super Region III rankings.
Through 12 games, Central Missouri still leads the nation in passing offense with an average of 417.3 yards per game, first downs with 371 and total offense with an average of 598.8 yards per game.
With 12 games in the books, quarterback and 2023 Harlon Hill candidate Zach Zebrowski continues to lead NCAA Division II in passing yards (4,732), passing touchdowns (56) and total offense (430.9 yards per game) while receiver Arkell Smith leads Division II in receiving yards (1,275) and ranks fourth in receiving touchdowns (15) and running back Marcellous Hawkins is fifth in rushing TDs (18).

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 but finished tied for first.

ZZ FOR HARLON HILL (UCMATHLETICS.COM/ZEBROWSKI)...

Mules quarterback Zach Zebrowski has thrown for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in 11 of UCM's 12 games 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 six times, including a UCM and MIAA record 615 yards against No. 23 Emporia State Oct. 21. Zebrowski has also thrown for five TDs eight 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 and NCAA Division II and UCM single-season record 56 passing TDs this season and has only been intercepted five times.
He also leads NCAA Division II in passing yards (4,732) and total offense (430.9 yards per game) through 12 contests.
Zebrowski leads all of NCAA Football (FBS, FCS, II, III) in both passing yards and total offense going into Saturday's NCAA-II Playoff game vs. Henderson State.

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 courtesy of the NCAA and HUDL Sports at NCAA.com. It is a pay-to-view webcast.
A new NCAA Championships Pass application is available on Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV and Google TV devices. Fans will have two viewing options: $9.95 per contest or $19.95 for all Division II football games through the quarterfinal round.

ZEBROWSKI, LAMBERSON EARN MIAA TOP HONORS; SIXTEEN MULES NAMED ALL-MIAA

MIAA Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Zebrowski, QB
MIAA Coach of the Year: Josh Lamberson
First Team All-MIAA: Zebrowski, Arkell Smith (WR), Marcellous Hawkins (all-purpose back), Gabe Clark (OL), David Olajiga (DL), Wyryor Noil (DB)
Second Team All-MIAA: Hawkins (RB), Demarcus Gregory (WR), Jack Pospisil (WR), Liam Wortmann (OL), Weston King (DL), Cale Miller (LB), Curtis Appleton II (DB)
Honorable Mention All-MIAA: Price Morgan (WR), Reed Kaburick (OL), Joshua Bean (DL), Noah Blair (DB)

UCM LEADERS

Offense: Through 12 games, the Mules are led offensively by quarterback Zach Zebrowski (383-of-558, 5 INT, 4732 yds., 56 TD, 89 LG, 394.3 yds./game), receivers Arkell Smith (89 rec., 1275 yds., 15 TD, 86 LG, 106.3 yds./game), Jack Pospisil (62 rec., 749 yds., 10 TD, 64 LG, 62.4 yds./game), Demarcus Gregory (46 rec., 493 yds., 5 TD, 42 LG, 41.1 yds/game), Michael Fitzgerald (30 rec., 491 yds., 4 TD, 49 LG, 40.9 yds./game) and Price Morgan (48 rec., 468 yds., 6 TD, 34 LG, 39 yds./game), and running back Marcellous Hawkins (151 carries, 1038 yds., 18 TD, 84 LG, 86.5 yds./game).
Defense: UCM is paced defensively through 12 games by defensive backs Curtis Appleton II (60 tackles [31 solo, 29 asst], 1 INT, 2 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery) and Wyryor Noil (5.0-12 TFL, 6 INT, 17 pass breakups), and linebackers Cale Miller (71 tackles [28 solo, 43 asst], 9.5-40 TFL, 2.5-23 sacks, 1 INT, 3 QBH), Garrett Hormann (54 tackles [22 solo, 32 asst], 3.5-9 TFL, 1.0-6 sacks, 2 INT, 2 QBH) and Isaac Montgomery (59 tackles [22 solo, 37 asst.], 4.5-16 TFL, 1.5-8 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble).
Special Teams: After 12 contests, the Central Missouri special teams unit is led by punter Ethan Brown (34 punts, 1337 yards, 39.3 average, 55 long, 4 touchback, 19 fair catches, 12 inside 20, 3 50+) and place-kicker Luke Dobson (5-7 FG, 41 long, 63-63 PAT [new UCM record for consecutive PATs]).

THE MULES IN THE NCAA-II PLAYOFFS

Mules football is 4-4 all-time in the NCAA-II Playoffs entering Saturday's game at Harding after rolling past Henderson State in the first round Nov. 18.

WEEKLY HONORS

D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week: Zach Zebrowski, QB, Oct. 24
MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week: Arkell Smith, WR, Sept. 11; Zach Zebrowski, QB, Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 6; Marcellous Hawkins, RB, Oct. 2
MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week: David Olajiga, DL, Sept. 25; Luke Dobson, K, Oct. 23

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 NCAA-II Second Round Playoff game vs. Harding will mark just the fourth meeting in the all-time series dating back to the first meeting in 1967. The Bisons lead the series, 2-1. The last time the two teams met was in the 2016 in the first round of the NCAA-II Playoffs with Harding posting a 48-31 win over the Mules in Searcy, Ark.

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 6 MULES FOOTBALL ROLLS PAST NO. 24 HENDERSON STATE, 56-14, IN NCAA-II PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND

Zach Zebrowski threw for seven touchdowns and 467 yards as the No. 6-ranked Central Missouri Mules football team rolled past No. 24-ranked Henderson State, 56-14, in the first round of the NCAA-II Football Championship Saturday, Nov. 18, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
Zebrowski went 24-for-34 for his 467 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns while posting 36 rushing yards on three carries. The 467 yards through the air mark the 11th game in 2023 he has compiled at least 300 yards passing. His seven passing TDs in the contest put him at 56 for the 2023 season -- a new NCAA-II single-season record.
Michael Fitzgerald tallied a team-best 121 receiving yards on four catches, including a 41-yard touchdown reception, while Jack Pospisil had three touchdowns catches (39, eight and nine yards), and Weston Bridges compiled a team-high 59 rushing yards on 10 carries. Marcellous Hawkins (two), Bo Reeves (one) and Arkell Smith (one) also had TDs in the contest.
Cale Miller led Central Missouri defensively with eight tackles, and Wyryor Noil and Garrett Hormann each compiled interceptions.
The Mules outscored Henderson State in the first half, 49-14, before shutting out the Reddies in the second half, 7-0, to roll to the 56-14 triumph. It's the third time this season UCM has held an opponent scoreless in the third and fourth quarters.
For the game, Central Missouri outgained Henderson State, 599-420, including a 467-219 edge in passing yards. The Reddies bested the Mules in rushing yards, 201-132, but UCM inched past HSU in first downs, 25-24.

THE MULES AT HOME

The Mules are 261-187-13 overall and 2023 is their 91st season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 10-2 at home.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES

Central Missouri has scored in 337 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 595-534-51 record.
The Mules have won 10 or more games five times in the history of the program and have posted 14 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. With a win Saturday at Harding, UCM would set a new program record for wins in a season.
UCM has won or shared 14 MIAA championships in school history with the last coming in 2023.
The Mules have qualified for the postseason 11 times in their history, including five trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs, the last coming in 2023.

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

If the Mules win, they will advance to the NCAA-II National Quarterfinals and will face the winner of the No. 2 seed Grand Valley State and No. 3 seed Pittsburg State game Saturday, Dec. 2.

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