UCM Mules wide receiver Michael Fitzgerald II (9) during an MIAA college football game against the Pittsburg State University (PSU) at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg, Missouri on September 16, 2023.
Andrew Mather Photography

Football

No. 21 Mules Football Hosts Northwest Missouri State Saturday for Black Out Game

Game 5: No. 21/22 Central Missouri (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) vs. Northwest Missouri State (2-2, 1-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Joe Moore, color; Brinkley Beever, sideline)
TV: MIAA Network (PPV) | Buy Tickets
 
SCENE SETTER
  • No. 21/22 Central Missouri Mules football (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) is scheduled to host MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State (2-2, 1-2 MIAA) Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg for the 2023 Black Out Game. All UCM fans are encouraged to wear black to the game Saturday.
  • Saturday's contest is also the Mental Health Awareness Game. UCM Athletics has partnered with the Hilinski's Hope Foundation to bring awareness to the importance of mental health for student-athletes. To learn more, visit www.hilinskishope.org.
  • UCM is coming off an impressive 58-28 victory at Washburn Saturday, Sept. 23, in Topeka, Kan.
  • The Mules are ranked number 21 in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and are 22nd in the most recent D2Football.com Top-25 Poll entering Saturday.
  • Through four games, Central Missouri still leads the nation in passing offense with an average of 396.2 yards per game, first downs with 118 and total offense with an average of 547.5 yards per game.
  • With four games in the books, quarterback Zach Zebrowski continues to lead NCAA Division II in passing yards (1,475), passing touchdowns (18) and total offense (411.8 yards per game) while receiver Arkell Smith ranks third in receiving TDs (6) and 20th in receiving yards (377), and running back Marcellous Hawkins is eighth in rushing TDs (6).
  • 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 Northwest Missouri was tabbed second in both polls.
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 four games, the Mules are led offensively by quarterback Zach Zebrowski (136-of-194, 2 INT, 1475 yds., 18 TD, 62 LG, 368.8 yds./game), receivers Arkell Smith (31 rec., 377 yds., 6 TD, 60 LG, 94.3 yds./game), Jack Pospisil (15 rec., 214 yds., 2 TD, 62 LG, 53.5 yds./game), Demarcus Gregory (19 rec., 176 yds., 1 TD, 33 LG, 44.0 yds/game), Michael Fitzgerald (14 rec., 246 yds., 2 TD, 40 LG, 61.5 yds./game) and Price Morgan (16 rec., 152 yds., 3 TD, 20 LG, 38.0 yds/game), and running back Marcellous Hawkins (50 carries, 277 yds., 6 TD, 55 LG, 69.3 yds./game).
  • Defense: UCM is paced defensively through four games by defensive backs Curtis Appleton II (21 tackles [13 solo, 8 asst], 1 fumble recovery) and Sharmari Reed (19 tackles [10 solo, 9 asst], 1.0-1 TFL, 2 forced fumble), and linebacker Cale Miller (27 tackles [12 solo, 15 asst], 4.0-16 TFL, 1.0-9 sacks, 1-2 INT)
  • Special Teams: After four contests, the Central Missouri special teams unit is led by punter Ethan Brown (11 punts, 414 yards, 37.6 average, 51 long, 1 touchback, 5 fair catches, 6 inside 20, 1 50+).
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 against Northwest Missouri State will be the 102nd meeting in the all-time series dating all the way back to 1921. The Bearcats lead the series, 64-35-2, and have won the last nine meetings. UCM's last victory over Northwest Missouri was back in 2012 -- a 31-21 triumph in Warrensburg.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE MULES
  • No. 25-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules football posted a 58-28 victory over the Washburn Ichabods in a MIAA game played on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Yager Stadium.
  • UCM quarterback Zach Zebrowski threw for 369 yards, going 40-for-48 with five touchdowns and added 25 rushing yards while running back Marcellous Hawkins rushed for a career-high 144 yards on six carries with two touchdowns, pacing Central Missouri offensively in the game. Zebrowski's 40 completions marked a UCM single-game record, surpassing former UCM quarterback and Harlon Hill winner Eric Czerniewski's 39 attempts back in 2010.
  • Running back Weston Bridges tallied both a rushing and passing touchdown, and receivers Zach Phipps, Price Morgan, Arkell Smith and Demarcus Gregory each caught touchdown passes.
  • Defensively for the Mules, Cale Miller compiled a team-best seven tackles, and Reyjon Williams and Josh Culwell added interceptions.
  • For the game, Central Missouri outgained Washburn, 659 yards (season-high) to 314 yards, including a 282-163 advantage in rushing and 377-151 edge in passing.
  • UCM outscored Washburn, 12-7 in the first quarter, 22-7 in the second quarter, 14-7 in the third quarter and 10-7 in the fourth quarter for the final 58-28 tally.
LAST TIME OUT VS. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
  • The second-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats tallied 346 yards of offense, powering past Central Missouri Mules football, 24-7, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville.
  • Central Missouri was held to just 103 yards of total offense for the game.
  • UCM quarterback Cedric Case threw for one touchdown pass – a 55-yard completion to Xavier Jackson in the first quarter – but was sacked seven times in the contest.
  • Noah Blair paced the Mule defense, tallying eight tackles and an interception while David Olajiga had a seven-yard sack.
  • Quarterback Mike Hohensee completed 12-of-24 passes for 137 yards with one touchdown and running back Jamar Moya rushed for a game-high 90 yards with a touchdown, leading Northwest Missouri offensively.
  • Elijah Green had six tackles and four quarterback sacks for 30 yards, pacing the Northwest Missouri State defense.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 256-187-13 overall and 2023 is their 91st season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 5-2 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 329 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 587-534-51 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 three 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 remain at home to host Nebraska Kearney in the Breast Cancer Awareness game Saturday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
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Players Mentioned

Xavier Jackson

#0 Xavier Jackson

RB
5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

DB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Weston Bridges

#5 Weston Bridges

RB
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

P
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

RB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Cale Miller

#30 Cale Miller

LB
6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
David Olajiga

#55 David Olajiga

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Jack Pospisil

#2 Jack Pospisil

WR
5' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Xavier Jackson

#0 Xavier Jackson

5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Weston Bridges

#5 Weston Bridges

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
P
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

5' 11"
Sophomore
RB
Cale Miller

#30 Cale Miller

6' 3"
Redshirt Junior
LB
David Olajiga

#55 David Olajiga

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
DL
Jack Pospisil

#2 Jack Pospisil

5' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
WR