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University of Central Missouri Athletics

Demarcus Gregory
Sam Lutz

Football

No. 7 Mules Football Wraps Up Regular Season with Non-Conference Game at Lincoln Saturday

Game 11: No. 7 Central Missouri (9-1) at Lincoln (0-10)
Saturday, Nov. 11 | Noon | Jefferson City, Mo. (Dwight T. Reed Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Joe Moore, color; Brinkley Beever, sideline)
TV: MIAA Network (PPV) 
 
SCENE SETTER
  • No. 7-ranked Central Missouri Mules football (9-1) is scheduled to wrap up its 2023 regular season with a non-conference game at Lincoln (0-10) Saturday, Nov. 11, at noon at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.
  • Central Missouri, winners of its last seven games, is coming off a 47-28 win over Fort Hays State Nov. 4 in Warrensburg. The win, coupled with a Pittsburg State loss at Missouri Western, clinched at least a share of the 2023 MIAA Championship for the Mules -- their 14th overall and first since 2019.
  • UCM is ranked No. 7 in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 8 in the latest D2Football.com poll. In the most recent NCAA-II Super Region III rankings, Central Missouri is ranked fourth.
  • Through 10 games, Central Missouri still leads the nation in passing offense with an average of 416.6 yards per game, first downs with 307 and total offense with an average of 584.3 yards per game. On the defensive side of the football, the Mules are in a four-way tie for first in Division II in interceptions with 18.
  • With 10 games in the books, quarterback Zach Zebrowski continues to lead NCAA Division II in passing yards (3,941), passing touchdowns (46) and total offense (430.6 yards per game) while receiver Arkell Smith is fourth in Division II in receiving TDs (14) and receiving yards (1,124) and running back Marcellous Hawkins is fifth in rushing TDs (15).
  • 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 first.
ZZ ON A ROLL...
  • Mules quarterback Zach Zebrowski has thrown for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns in nine of UCM's 10 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 five times, including a UCM and MIAA record 615 yards against No. 23 Emporia State Oct. 21. Zebrowski has also thrown for five TDs seven 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 46 passing TDs this season and has only been intercepted five times.
  • He also leads NCAA Division II in passing yards (3,941) and total offense (430.6 yards per game) through 10 contests.
  • Zebrowski leads all of NCAA Football (FBS, FCS, II, III) in both passing yards and total offense going into Saturday's game at Lincoln.
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 10 games, the Mules are led offensively by quarterback Zach Zebrowski (331-of-486, 5 INT, 3941 yds., 46 TD, 89 LG, 394.1 yds./game), receivers Arkell Smith (80 rec., 1124 yds., 14 TD, 86 LG, 112.4 yds./game), Jack Pospisil (50 rec., 595 yds., 56TD, 64 LG, 59.5 yds./game), Demarcus Gregory (43 rec., 472 yds., 4 TD, 42 LG, 47.2 yds/game), Michael Fitzgerald (24 rec., 348 yds., 3 TD, 40 LG, 34.8 yds./game) and Price Morgan (41 rec., 383 yds., 6 TD, 22 LG, 38.3 yds./game), and running back Marcellous Hawkins (139 carries, 946 yds., 15 TD, 84 LG, 94.6 yds./game).
  • Defense: UCM is paced defensively through 10 games by defensive backs Curtis Appleton II (56 tackles [30 solo, 26 asst], 1 INT, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery) and Wyryor Noil (4.0-9 TFL, 5 INT, 14 pass breakups), and linebackers Cale Miller (60 tackles [23 solo, 37 asst], 8.0-36 TFL, 2.5-23 sacks, 1 INT), Garrett Hormann (45 tackles [19 solo, 26 asst], 2.0-8 TFL, 1.0-6 sacks, 1 INT, 2 QBH) and Isaac Montgomery (50 tackles [19 solo, 31 asst.], 3.0-9 TFL, 1.0-5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble).
  • Special Teams: After 10 contests, the Central Missouri special teams unit is led by punter Ethan Brown (29 punts, 1105 yards, 38.1 average, 51 long, 3 touchback, 16 fair catches, 12 inside 20, 1 50+) and place-kicker Luke Dobson (5-6 FG, 41 long, 48-48 PAT [new UCM record for consecutive PATs]).
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 game at Lincoln will mark the 34th meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1957. The Mules lead the series, 26-7, including a 14-2 advantage in Jefferson City, Mo. Last season, UCM rolled to a 61-14victory over Lincoln in Warrensburg. The Mules have won the last 21 meetings with the Blue Tigers. Central Missouri's last loss to Lincoln was back in 1978, a 21-6 setback.
LAST TIME OUT: NO. 8 MULES CLINCH SHARE OF 2023 MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 47-28 WIN OVER FORT HAYS STATE
  • No. 8-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules football clinched at least a share of its 14th MIAA Championship after posting a 47-28 win over the Fort Hays State Tigers Saturday, Nov. 4, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field on Senior Day.
  • UCM's win, coupled with No. 2-ranked Pittsburg State's loss to Missouri Western secured the Mules' first conference crown since 2019.
  • Arkell Smith caught two touchdown passes on 10 catches and tallied 149 yards to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the season. Smith now stands at 1,124 yards in 10 games this season.
  • Zach Zebrowski eclipsed at least 300 yards passing for the ninth game in 2023, going 36-of-52 for 459 yards and tallied five touchdown passes while also rushing for 36 yards on 10 carries and scoring a two-yard rushing touchdown.
  • Curtis Appleton II had 10 tackles, Cale Miller and David Olajiga teamed up to give the Mules a safety, and Noah Blair compiled an interception, pacing Central Missouri defensively.
  • For the game, UCM outgained Fort Hays State, 531-360, including a 459-261 advantage in passing yards. Central Missouri also went a perfect 5-of-5 on scoring chances in the red zone.
LAST TIME OUT VS. LINCOLN
  • Cedric Case threw for 246 yards with six touchdown passes and Trevor Twehous had 100 receiving yards with a pair of TDs leading the Central Missouri Mules football team to a 61-14 rout of the Lincoln Blue Tigers Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Case went a perfect 16-for-16 with no interceptions and a long of 52 for his 246 passing yards and added 54 rushing yards, pacing the UCM offense. His passing performance set a new Central Missouri single-game record for highest NCAA passing efficiency (since 1988), breaking former UCM standout Toby Korrodi's record set back in 2006 against Southwest Baptist.
  • Twehous had three catches, including a 52-yard touchdown pass from Case in the second quarter, for his career-high 100 receiving yards while Avian Thomas rushed for a game-high 93 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown.
  • Defensively for Central Missouri, Lane West had a 25-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown while Keshawn Howell added a 33-yard fumble recovery and forced fumble. Clay Griffin also forced a fumble, and Cooper Crane tallied six tackles, rounding out the Mules' defensive leaders in the victory.
  • UCM outgained Lincoln for the game, 557-234, including a 225-54 advantage in rushing yards and 332-180 edge in passing yards. The Mules' 557 yards of total offense is a season high.
  • Central Missouri also won both the turnover battle, 2-0, and time-of-possession, 36:48 to 23:12, with the Blue Tigers.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 260-187-13 overall and 2023 is their 91st season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 9-2 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 335 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 593-534-51 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 14 MIAA championships in school history with the last coming in 2023.
  • 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
  • The Mules will find out who and where they will play in the first round of the 2023 NCAA-II Playoffs during the NCAA-II Football Playoff Selection Show Sunday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
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Players Mentioned

Keshawn Howell

#8 Keshawn Howell

DB
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Trevor Twehous

#2 Trevor Twehous

WR
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

DB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

P
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Cooper Crane

#16 Cooper Crane

LB
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Luke Dobson

#43 Luke Dobson

K
5' 10"
Sophomore
Clay Griffin

#23 Clay Griffin

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

RB
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Keshawn Howell

#8 Keshawn Howell

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Trevor Twehous

#2 Trevor Twehous

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
P
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Cooper Crane

#16 Cooper Crane

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Luke Dobson

#43 Luke Dobson

5' 10"
Sophomore
K
Clay Griffin

#23 Clay Griffin

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

5' 11"
Sophomore
RB