UCM Mules football team during an MIAA college football game against the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK) Lopers at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg, Missouri on September 28, 2024.
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Football

Mules Football Travels to Northwest Missouri State Saturday

Game 7: Central Missouri (3-3, 1-3 MIAA) at Northwest Missouri State (4-3, 4-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 19 | 2:00 p.m. | Maryville, Mo. (Bearcat Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Joe Moore, color commentary; Ryan Anderson, sideline)
Live Video: TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES (PPV)

Live Stats | Live Audio | UCM Game Notes (PDF)
SCENE SETTER
  • Central Missouri Mules football (3-3, 1-3 MIAA) is slated to travel to Maryville, Mo., for a 2 p.m. MIAA contest at Northwest Missouri State (4-3, 4-2 MIAA) Saturday, Oct. 19. 
  • UCM is coming off a 38-28 setback to Missouri Western Saturday, Oct. 12, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.
  • Through six games, UCM leads NCAA Division II in passing offense (425.2 yards/game) and ranks third in total offense (537.3 yards/game).
  • Individually, quarterback Zach Zebrowski is first in passing yards per game (423.3), passing yards (2,540), passing TDs (24) and total offense (463 yards/game), and ranks second in completions per game (34.2 completions/game).
  • The Mules were tabbed the preseason favorite in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches' and Media Preseason Polls. Northwest Missouri State was voted third in both preseason polls.
ON THE AIR
  • Saturday's game will be broadcast live on 1450 KOKO, "Your Country" 98.5 The BAR and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action, Joe Moore providing color commentary, and Ryan Anderson on the sidelines.
  • The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's MIAA Network Internet portal at 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. 
WEEKLY HONORS
  • MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week: Sept. 9, Sept. 30, QB, Zach Zebrowski
  • MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week: Sept. 23, DB, Noah Blair
UCM LEADERS NEW FACES
  • Entering the 2024 season, the Mules roster will feature 37 true freshmen and 30 transfers.
  • The Mules also welcome four new coaches for 2024 in Cornerbacks Coach Jarvis Harrod, Assistant Secondaries Coach and former UCM standout safety Codie Bell, Tight Ends Coach Cole McDowell and Linebackers Coach Zach McCarthy.
  • Returning coaches for this season include 2023 MIAA and AFCA Division II Super Region III Coach of the Year Josh Lamberson, Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach Hayden Hawk, Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Justin Bane, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach Greg Jones, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Run Game/Offensive Line Coach Joe Holtzclaw, Defensive Line Coach/Alumni & Community Engagement Coordinator Dana Chambers, Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach Adrian Duncan and Assistant AD for Football Operations/Player Personnel DeMarkco Butler.
AIRING IT OUT
  • Going into Saturday's game, the Mules have five wide receivers who have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Zach Patterson (566 yards, 29 catches, 3 TD), Hogan Wasson (342 yards, 28 catches, 2 TD), NyNy Davis (24 catches, 288 yards, 3 TD), Jack Pospisil (26 catches, 279 yards, 1 TD) and Derrick Rose (18 catches, 213 yards, 2 TD) all have compiled at least 200 receiving yards through UCM's six contests.
  • Patterson tallied a UCM single-game 232 receiving yards on 10 catches in Central Missouri's game at Fort Hays State Oct. 5. His 232 yards through the air bested the previous record of 230 yards set by Jamar Howard at Emporia State in 2011.
ADVANCING UP THE CAREER CHARTS
  • Quarterback Zach Zebrowski continues to climb the UCM career records charts. Through 19 career games at UCM, he ranks second in career pass completions (622) and touchdown passes (85), and third in passing yards (7,697) and total offense (8,449 yards - 752 rush, 7697 pass).
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday's game at Northwest Missouri State will be the 103rd meeting in the all-time series dating all the way back to 1921. The Bearcats lead the series, 64-36-2. The Mules broke a nine-game losing streak to the Bearcats last season, defeating Northwest Missouri State in Warrensburg, 41-38. UCM has not won in Maryville since a 52-24 victory in 2003.
LAST TIME OUT VS. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE: NO. 21 MULES FOOTBALL GETS PAST NORTHWEST MISSOURI
  • Marcellous Hawkins rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns and Zach Zebrowski threw for 412 yards with two touchdowns as the No. 21-ranked Central Missouri Mules football team took down the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, 41-38, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. The victory marked UCM's first win over the Bearcats since 2012.
  • Hawkins compiled his career-best 149 rushing yards on 18 carries, including touchdown runs of nine and 30 yards. Zebrowski went 33-for-55 for 412 yards and threw TD passes of 24 and six yards.
  • Arkell Smith added 153 receiving yards on 10 catches while Jack Pospisil tallied 88 yards on 10 catches with a touchdown.
  • Curtis Appleton II paced the UCM defense, making 11 tackles and posting an interception. Sharmari Reed and Jaden Dawson also had interceptions in the victory while David Olajiga, Martin Bender, Weston King and Lane West each tallied quarterback sacks.
  • For the game, the Mules outgained the Bearcats 568 yards to 410 yards, including a 156-127 advantage in rushing and 412-283 edge in passing. Central Missouri also won the time of possession battle over Northwest Missouri, 33:06 to 26:54.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 263-188-13 overall and 2024 is their 92nd season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 12-3 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 344 straight games, a MIAA record.
  • The streak dates to week three of the 1991 season.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
  • In the 127 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 598-538-51 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 2023. The Mules also won 11 games in 2019 and 2010.
  • 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, 79 Central Missouri football players have either been drafted or signed professional free-agent contracts.
  • For the 2024 season, UCM has two former players in the NFL, as Davidson (Buffalo Bills) and David Olajiga (Los Angeles Rams) are both on practice squads.
UP NEXT
  • The Mules host the Washburn Ichabods in the annual UCM Homecoming Game Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1:30 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.
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Players Mentioned

Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Martin Bender

#98 Martin Bender

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
David Olajiga

#55 David Olajiga

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Arkell Smith

#6 Arkell Smith

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Weston King

#95 Weston King

DL
6' 2"
Senior
Isaac Montgomery

#3 Isaac Montgomery

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Jack Pospisil

#2 Jack Pospisil

WR
5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
Sharmari Reed

#13 Sharmari Reed

DB
6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Curtis Appleton II

#1 Curtis Appleton II

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Martin Bender

#98 Martin Bender

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
DL
David Olajiga

#55 David Olajiga

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
DL
Arkell Smith

#6 Arkell Smith

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

5' 11"
Junior
RB
Weston King

#95 Weston King

6' 2"
Senior
DL
Isaac Montgomery

#3 Isaac Montgomery

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Jack Pospisil

#2 Jack Pospisil

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Sharmari Reed

#13 Sharmari Reed

6' 1"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB