Game 9: Central Missouri (5-3, 3-3 MIAA)Â at No. 1/5 Pittsburg State (7-1, 6-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 2Â | 2 p.m. | Pittsburg, Kan. (Carnie Smith Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Ryan Anderson, sideline)
TV: TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES (PPV) | KMCI 38 The Spot (
more info)
Live Stats |
Live Audio |
UCM Game Notes (PDF)
SCENE SETTER
- Central Missouri Mules football (5-3, 3-3 MIAA) is scheduled to begin a two-game road swing with a trip to No. 1/5-ranked Pittsburg State (7-1, 6-1 MIAA) Saturday, Nov. 2, in Pittsburg, Kan. Kick-off is slated for 2 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.
- The Mules are coming off a 31-28 win over the Washburn Ichabods Saturday, Oct. 26, in the annual UCM Homecoming Game at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.Â
- Through eight games, UCM leads NCAA Division II in passing offense (389.9 yards/game) and ranks fourth in total offense (496 yards/game).
- Individually, quarterback Zach Zebrowski is first in passing yards per game (388.5), passing yards (3,108), passing TDs (29) and total offense (420.4 yards/game), and ranks third in completions per game (31.5 completions/game), while receiver Zach Patterson is 10th in both receiving yards per game (97.4) and receiving yards (779).
- The Mules were tabbed the preseason favorite in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches' and Media Preseason Polls. Pittsburg State was voted second in both polls.
- Pittsburg State is ranked number one in the most recent D2Football.com poll and No. 5 in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll.
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 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.Â
- Saturday's game will also air live throughout the Kansas City Metro Area on KMCI 38 The Spot.
WEEKLY HONORS
UCM LEADERS
- Passing: Zach Zebrowski (QB): 252-for-382, 3108 yards, 29 TDs, 7 INT, 388.5 yards per game.
- Rushing: Zach Zebrowski (QB): 68 carries, 236 yards, 2 TD, 33 long, 29.5 yards per game
- Receiving: Zach Patterson (WR): 40 catches, 779 yards, 5 TDs, 75 long, 97.4 yards per game.
- Tackles: Austin Bressler (DB): 52 total, 18 solo, 34 assisted
- Tackles-for-Loss: Austin Bressler (LB): 4 total, 12 yards lost
- Sacks: Elias Sherman (DL): 2.5 sacks, 12 yards lost
- Takeaways: LaDarian Paulk (DB), Noah Blair (DB), Charles Gadie (DB): 2 INTs
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 (779 yards, 40 catches, 5 TD), Jack Pospisil (38 catches, 422 yards, 3 TD), Hogan Wasson (385 yards, 31 catches, 2 TD), NyNy Davis (24 catches, 288 yards, 3 TD) and Derrick Rose (21 catches, 232 yards, 2 TD) all have compiled at least 200 receiving yards through UCM's eight contests.
- Patterson tallied a UCM single-game record 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.
PICK SIX FOR THE RECORD BOOKS!
- Isaac Montgomery tallied a UCM single-game record 100-yard, pick-six in the Mules' 35-30 win at Northwest Missouri State Saturday. His 100-yard interception return for a TD was the fifth in MIAA history and 75th in NCAA Division II Football history.
ADVANCING UP THE CAREER CHARTS
- Quarterback Zach Zebrowski continues to climb the UCM career records charts. Through 21 career games at UCM, he ranks second in career pass completions (669) and touchdown passes (90), and third in passing yards (8,265) and total offense (9,034 yards - 769 rush, 8,265 pass).
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday's showdown in Pittsburg, Kan., against the Gorillas will mark the 61st meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1916. Pittsburg State leads the series, 46-12-2 and has won the last three meetings. Last season, the Mules narrowly fell to the Gorillas in Warrensburg, 38-37. Central Missouri's last win in Pittsburg was a 34-27 victory during the 2016 season.
LAST TIME OUT VS. PITTSBURG STATE: NO. 3 GORILLAS INCH PAST MULES FOOTBALL SATURDAY, 38-37
- Zach Zebrowski threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns and Michael Fitzgerald had 136 receiving yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough, as Central Missouri Mules football fell to the No. 3-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas, 38-37, Saturday afternoon, Sept. 16, 2023, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
- Zebrowski went 31-for-52 for 316 yards and three touchdowns and added a team-best 117 yards rushing on 11 carries while Fitzgerald reeled in seven catches, including a 16-yard touchdown pass, for his 136 yards through the air. Marcellous Hawkins compiled a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries.
- Cale Miller paced the UCM defense, tallying four unassisted and six assisted tackles for 10 total tackles on the day. Wyryor Noil posted an interception while Garrett Hormann and David Olajiga each had quarterback sacks.
- For the game, Pittsburg State outgained UCM, 470 yards to 442 yards, including a 323-316 advantage in passing yards and 147-126 lead in rushing yards.
- Pitt State quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr., went 20-for-30 with three TD passes and 286 yards and added 29 yards on the ground, pacing the Gorillas offensively.
- Jack Barkley had eight tackles, leading the Pittsburg State defense.
THE MULES AT HOME
- The Mules are 264-188-13 overall and 2024 is their 92nd season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
- Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 13-3 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
- Central Missouri has scored in 346 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 600-538-51 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
- Central Missouri remains on the road, traveling to No. 11/13 Emporia State Saturday, Nov. 9, in Emporia, Kan.
