UCM Mules defense vs. Washburn
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Football

Mules Football Treks to No. 19 Emporia State Saturday

Game 10: Central Missouri (6-3, 4-3 MIAA) at No. 19/20 Emporia State (7-2, 5-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 9 | 1 p.m. | Emporia, Kan. (Francis G. Welch Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The BAR (Greg Hassler, pxp; Jim Svoboda, color commentary; Ella Bland, sideline)
TV: TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES (PPV)

Live Stats | Live Audio | UCM Game Notes (PDF)
SCENE SETTER
  • University of Central Missouri Mules football (6-3, 4-3 MIAA) is scheduled to travel to Emporia, Kan., for a MIAA showdown at No. 19/20-ranked Emporia State (7-2, 5-2 MIAA) Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. at Francis G. Welch Stadium.
  • The Mules, winners of three straight games, are coming off a 37-13 victory at No. 1/5 Pittsburg State Saturday, Nov. 2, at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan. The win marked UCM's first at Pittsburg State since the 2016 season.
  • Through nine games, UCM leads NCAA Division II in passing offense (389 yards/game) and first downs (247) and ranks second in total offense (508.3 yards/game).
  • Individually, quarterback Zach Zebrowski is first in passing yards per game (387.8), passing yards (3,490), passing TDs (31) and total offense (426.8 yards/game), and ranks second in completions per game (30.4 completions/game), while receiver Zach Patterson is 10th in receiving yards (849) and 11th in receiving yards per game (94.3/game).
  • The Mules were tabbed the preseason favorite in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches' and Media Preseason Polls. Emporia State was picked fourth in the coaches and sixth in the media preseason polls.
  • Emporia State is ranked number 19 in the latest D2football.com poll and number 20 in the most recent 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, former longtime Mules football head coach Jim Svoboda providing color commentary and Ella Bland 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 UCM LEADERS AIRING IT OUT
  • Going into Saturday's game, the Mules have four wide receivers who have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Zach Patterson (849 yards, 45 catches, 5 TD), Jack Pospisil (43 catches, 496 yards, 3 TD), Hogan Wasson (412 yards, 33 catches, 2 TD) and Derrick Rose (21 catches, 232 yards, 2 TD) all have compiled at least 200 receiving yards through UCM's nine 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 22 career games at UCM, he ranks second in career pass completions (691), touchdown passes (92), passing yards (8,647) and total offense (9,512 yards - 865 rush, 8,647 pass).
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday's game against the Hornets will mark the 69th meeting in the all-time series dating all the way back to 1901. UCM leads the series, 43-21-4. Last season, the Mules rolled to a 77-27 win over the Hornets in Warrensburg. Central Missouri's last victory in Emporia, Kan., was a 34-27 triumph in 2019.
LAST TIME OUT VS. EMPORIA STATE: RECORDS FALL AS NO. 16 MULES RACE PAST NO. 23 EMPORIA STATE IN HOMECOMING GAME, 77-27
  • Records fell as No. 16-ranked Central Missouri Mules football rolled past the No. 23-ranked Emporia State Hornets, 77-27, in the annual UCM Homecoming Game Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21, 2023, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Quarterback Zach Zebrowski established new Central Missouri and MIAA single-game records for passing touchdowns with eight, passing yards with 615 and total offense with 673 yards. He went 31-of-51 for his record-breaking 615 yards through the air and added 58 yards on nine carries on the ground.
  • Running back Marcellous Hawkins added a career-best 183 rushing yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns while receiver Arkell Smith tallied 137 yards on five catches with three touchdowns. Zion Perry also eclipsed 100 yards receiving in the victory with 119 yards on four catches, including a touchdown.
  • Zach Phipps (2), Michael Fitzgerald (1) and Demarcus Gregory (1) also posted receiving touchdowns for Central Missouri.
  • For the game, UCM set new program and MIAA records for total yards with 976 and passing yards with 659. Central Missouri outgained Emporia State, 976 to 451, including a 659-367 advantage in passing and 317-84 edge in rushing.
  • The Mules scored a combined 56 points in the first and second quarter to open up a 56-27 halftime lead over the Hornets and never looked back the remainder of the game enroute to the win.
  • Defensively for Central Missouri, Garrett Hormann tallied a team-best nine tackles while Wyryor Noil and Jaden Dawson both had interceptions.
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 347 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 601-538-51 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 Missouri Southern Lions Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.
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Players Mentioned

David Olajiga

#55 David Olajiga

DL
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
Zion Perry

#1 Zion Perry

WR
5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
Arkell Smith

#6 Arkell Smith

WR
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Wyryor Noil

#6 Wyryor Noil

DB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Demarcus Gregory

#4 Demarcus Gregory

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

DB
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

RB
5' 11"
Junior
Garrett Hormann

#27 Garrett Hormann

LB
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Isaac Montgomery

#3 Isaac Montgomery

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Zach Phipps

#5 Zach Phipps

WR
6' 2"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

David Olajiga

#55 David Olajiga

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
DL
Zion Perry

#1 Zion Perry

5' 7"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Arkell Smith

#6 Arkell Smith

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
WR
Wyryor Noil

#6 Wyryor Noil

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Demarcus Gregory

#4 Demarcus Gregory

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Marcellous Hawkins

#8 Marcellous Hawkins

5' 11"
Junior
RB
Garrett Hormann

#27 Garrett Hormann

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
LB
Isaac Montgomery

#3 Isaac Montgomery

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Zach Phipps

#5 Zach Phipps

6' 2"
Sophomore
WR