Mules Football Back Home to Face Fort Hays State on Saturday Afternoon

2026 CANCER AWARENESS DAY / YOUTH DAY
Game 9: Central Missouri (5-3, 4-2 MIAA) vs. Fort Hays State (3-5, 2-4 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 1:00 p.m. | Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field (Warrensburg, Mo.)
Radio: 1450 KOKO AM, 92.1 FM, 98.5 The BAR FM (Greg Hassler, pxp; Jim Svoboda, color)
Live Video (PPV): TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES

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SCENE SETTER

University of Central Missouri Mules Football (5-3, 4-2 MIAA) is scheduled to host the Fort Hays State Tigers (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg. Saturday's game is Cancer Awareness Day and Youth Day at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
The Mules are coming off a 58-38 loss at No. 8-ranked Emporia State on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Emporia, Kan.
Through eight games, Central Missouri ranks in the top 10 in NCAA-II in passing offense (2nd at 366.1 yards per game), first downs (3rd with 214), and total offense (7th with 498 yards per game). Individually, quarterback Jordan Pachot leads Division II in completions per game (30 per game), ranks second in passing yards per game (344.4 per game) and overall passing yards (2,755), and fourth in total offense (336.4 yards per game), while wide receiver Jack Pospisil is first in receptions per game (8.13), running back DJ Brown is seventh in rushing TDs (12) and ninth in total touchdowns, and wide receiver Marlon Lindsey, Jr., is sixth in kickoff return TDs (1).
2026 is the 130th season in the history of Mules Football. UCM has played football every year since 1895, except for 1918 due to World War I.
The Mules are ranked No. 8 in the second NCAA NPI Super Region 4 rankings released on Oct. 25. The top eight teams in the final NPI rankings released after the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the NCAA-II Football Playoffs.
Central Missouri was voted fourth in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Media Poll and fifth in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on "Your Country" 98.5 The BAR, "Good Time Oldies" 1450 KOKO, 92.1 FM, and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action and former Mules Football Head Coach Jim Svoboda providing color commentary.
A pay-per-view webcast of the game will also be available via the MIAA Network at TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES.

CURRENT UCM STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Jordan Pachot (QB): 240-of-357; 11 interceptions; 67.2 completion percentage; 2,755 passing yards; 19 touchdowns; 81 long; 344.4 yards per game
Rushing: DJ Brown (RB): 138 carries; 689 rushing yards; 5 yards per carry; 12 touchdowns; 41 long; 86.1 yards per game
Receiving: Jack Pospisil (WR): 65 catches, 525 yards, 8.1 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns, 39 long, 65.6 yards per game; Jake Weber (WR): 43 catches, 506 yards, 11.8 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns, 39 long, 63.3 yards per game; Marlon Lindsey, Jr. (WR): 30 catches, 552 yards, 18.4 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns, 75 long, 69 yards per game
Tackles: Marcus Williams (DL): 66 tackles (37 solo, 29 assisted)
Tackles-for-Loss: Kyan Franklin (DL): 5.5 TFL for 19 yards
Sacks: Marcus Williams (DL): 3.5 sacks for 23 yards
Takeaways: Abraham Hoskins III (DB): 3 interceptions; Marcus Williams (LB): 2 interceptions; Trel Riley (DB): 2 interceptions

POSPISIL CLIMBING THE RECORD CHARTS

Wide receiver Jack Pospisil continues to climb the UCM receiving record charts. Entering Saturday, he is the UCM career receptions leader with 235, ranks third in career receiving yards with 2,565, and is tied for fifth in career TD receptions with 19.

GROUND GAME

Running back DJ Brown leads the MIAA in rushing TDs through eight games with 12 and overall rushing yards (689 yards on 138 carries), and ranks second in rushing yards per game (86.1 per game).
As a team, UCM is currently fifth in the conference in rushing with 1055 rushing yards and 131.9 rushing yards per game.

AIRING IT OUT

Quarterback Jordan Pachot paces the MIAA in passing through eight games with 2,755 passing yards on 240 completions and 344.4 passing yards per game.
The Mules as a team lead the MIAA with 2,929 passing yards and 366.1 passing yards per game.
Wide receiver Jack Pospisil leads the conference with 65 receptions in eight games.

EXTENDING THE DRIVE

The Mules lead the MIAA in both first downs (214 total, 26.8 per game) and third down conversions (51.5 percent).

NEW FACES

Mules Football welcomes 57 new student-athletes to their roster in 2026, including 33 high school freshmen and 24 transfers.
In addition, UCM has four new coaches for the 2026 season. New coaches include: Brandon Clayton (Defensive Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Backs), Cody Fayette (Tight Ends), Isaiah Wilson (Running Backs), and Austin Alewel (Kickers, Punters, Long Snapper).

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday's contest against Fort Hays State will mark the 22nd meeting in the all-time series, going back to the first meeting in 1964. UCM leads the series, 12-9. Last season, Central Missouri took down FHSU in Hays, Kan., 28-24.

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 8 EMPORIA STATE USES BIG SECOND HALF TO DOWN MULES FOOTBALL SATURDAY

The No. 8-ranked Emporia State Hornets used a big second half to post a 58-38 victory over the University of Central Missouri Mules Football team on Saturday night, Oct. 24, at Francis G. Welch Stadium.
Central Missouri gained an early 7-0 lead with 11:16 remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Jordan Pachot connected with wide receiver Trevor Garlington on a 7-yard touchdown pass before Emporia State (8-0, 6-0 MIAA) converted a 22-yard field goal to trim the UCM lead to 7-3.
Pachot and wide receiver Marlon Lindsey, Jr., tallied touchdown passes of 25 and 42 yards, making it 21-10, Mules, with 13:45 to go in the second quarter.
Emporia State answered, however, and gained a 24-21 lead going into halftime after a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown with 47 seconds to go in the second quarter.
The Hornets caught fire in the second half, outscoring the Mules, 34-17, to take control of the game en route to the 58-38 victory.
For the game, Pachot went 45-of-63 for a career-best 521 yards with four passing touchdowns, but had four interceptions, while Lindsey Jr. tallied a career-high 145 receiving yards on nine catches with two TDs, leading UCM offensively.
For the game, Central Missouri outgained Emporia State 634 yards to 460 yards, including a 562-304 advantage in passing yards, but turned the ball over four times.
ESU's Jamison Sarver was 28-of-40 for 304 yards with four passing touchdowns and one interception, while Ethan Schultze had 100 receiving yards on five catches with two TDs, pacing the Hornets.

THE MULES AT HOME

The Mules are 270-192-13 overall, and 2026 will be their 94th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 19-7 at home.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES

Central Missouri has scored in 369 straight games, a MIAA record.
The streak dates to week three of the 1991 season.

MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY

In the 130 seasons of UCM Football, the Mules have compiled a 614-547-51 record. Central Missouri has fielded a football team every year since 1895, except for 1918, when World War I occurred.
The Mules have won 10 or more games six times in the history of the program and have posted 15 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 13 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, 80 Central Missouri football players have either been drafted or signed professional free-agent contracts.

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