SEARCY, Ark. – No. 6-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules football fell to No. 3-ranked Harding, 35-34, in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship Saturday, Nov. 25, at First Security Stadium.
The Mules end their season with an overall record of 11-2 – tying the school record for wins – and as MIAA Co-Champions after compiling a conference record of 9-1.
UCM redshirt junior quarterback
Zach Zebrowski went 34-for-44 and threw for five touchdowns on 425 yards passing and added 94 rushing yards on 16 carries while redshirt senior receiver
Arkell Smith tallied 150 yards on nine catches and had three TD receptions, leading Central Missouri offensively. It's the 12th game this season Zebrowski has recorded at least 300 passing yards.
Michael Fitzgerald and
Zion Perry also caught touchdown passes in the game.
Smith ends his UCM career as the Central Missouri record holder in receiving touchdowns (34) and ranks second in career receiving yards (2,816).
Redshirt juniors
Curtis Appleton II (13 tackles) and
Noah Blair (12 tackles) paced UCM defensively in the contest.
For the game, the Mules outgained the Bisons (12-0), 534-418, including a 425-34 advantage in passing yards, but the Bisons posted a 384-109 edge in rushing yards and won the time of possession battle, 35:42 to 24:18.
Blake Delacruz posted 154 rushing yards on 34 carries with two touchdowns, while Chauncey Martin had 123 rushing yards on four carries and a pair of TDs, leading Harding in the game.
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