Football | 11/4/2026 11:58:00 AM

• University of Central Missouri Mules Football (6-3, 5-2 MIAA) is scheduled to travel to Pittsburg, Kan., for a 2 p.m. MIAA contest against the Pittsburg State Gorillas (3-6, 3-4 MIAA) on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Carnie Smith Stadium.
• The Mules are coming off a 31-13 win over the Fort Hays State Tigers on Halloween Saturday, Oct. 31, in Warrensburg.
• Through nine games, Central Missouri ranks in the top 10 in NCAA-II in passing offense (2nd at 347.7 yards per game), first downs (3rd with 234), and total offense (5th with 489.8 yards per game). Individually, quarterback Jordan Pachot leads Division II in completions per game (29.1 per game), ranks third in passing yards per game (328.3 per game) and overall passing yards (2,955), and sixth in total offense (324.6 yards per game), while wide receiver Jack Pospisil is second in receptions per game (7.89), running back DJ Brown is ninth in rushing TDs (12), and wide receiver Marlon Lindsey, Jr., is seventh 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. 7 in the third NCAA NPI Super Region 4 rankings released on Nov. 1. The top eight teams in the final NPI rankings released after the conclusion of the regular season on Nov. 15 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.

• 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, former Mules Football Head Coach Jim Svoboda providing color commentary, and UCM Athletics Assistant AD for Communications Ryan Anderson on the sideline.
• A pay-per-view webcast of the game will also be available via the MIAA Network at TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES.

• Passing: Jordan Pachot (QB): 262-of-390; 11 interceptions; 67.2 completion percentage; 2,955 passing yards; 20 touchdowns; 81 long; 328.3 yards per game
• Rushing: DJ Brown (RB): 159 carries; 858 rushing yards; 5.4 yards per carry; 13 touchdowns; 41 long; 95.3 yards per game
• Receiving: Jack Pospisil (WR): 71 catches, 544 yards, 7.7 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns, 39 long, 60.4 yards per game; Jake Weber (WR): 49 catches, 589 yards, 12 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns, 58 long, 65.4 yards per game; Marlon Lindsey, Jr. (WR): 36 catches, 618 yards, 17.1 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns, 75 long, 68.7 yards per game
• Tackles: Marcus Williams (DL): 75 tackles (41 solo, 34 assisted)
• Tackles-for-Loss: Drew Kaufman (LB): 6.5 TFL for 16 yards; Kyan Franklin (DL): 6.5 TFL for 31 yards
• Sacks: Marcus Williams (DL): 3.5 sacks for 23 yards
• Takeaways: Abraham Hoskins III (DB): 3 interceptions; Marcus Williams (LB): 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery; Trel Riley (DB): 2 interceptions; Brian Dykstra (DB): 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery

• Defensive back Brian Dykstra was voted the MIAA Co-Defensive Athlete of the Week for his performance on the football field during the week of Oct. 26 through Nov. 1, the conference office announced on Monday, Nov. 2.
• A senior from Denver, Colo., Dykstra made two key defensive plays in UCM's 31-13 win over Fort Hays State on Halloween Saturday, Oct. 31, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg. Dykstra recovered a fumble that was forced by teammate Drew Kaufman and returned it 27 yards to the house for Central Missouri's first fumble-recovery touchdown since 2022, building the Central Missouri lead to 24-13 with eight minutes to go in the third quarter. On the very next Fort Hays State drive, Dykstra picked off a pass on fourth down on the UCM 9-yard line, keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard during the drive and giving the ball back to the Mules. In addition, he added four tackles and one pass breakup in the game.
• Dykstra shared Defensive Athlete of the Week honors with Washburn's JC Heim.

• Wide receiver Jack Pospisil continues to climb the UCM receiving record charts. Entering Saturday, he is the UCM career receptions leader with 241, ranks third in career receiving yards with 2,584, and is tied for fifth in career TD receptions with 19.

• Running back DJ Brown leads the MIAA in rushing TDs through nine games with 13, overall rushing yards (858 yards on 159 carries), and rushing yards per game (95.3 per game).
• As a team, UCM is currently fourth in the conference in rushing with 1279 rushing yards and 142.1 rushing yards per game.

• Quarterback Jordan Pachot paces the MIAA in passing through nine games with 2,955 passing yards on 262 completions and 328.3passing yards per game.
• The Mules as a team lead the MIAA with 3,129 passing yards and 347.7 passing yards per game.
• Wide receiver Jack Pospisil leads the conference with 71 receptions in nine games.

• The Mules lead the MIAA in both first downs (234 total, 26 per game) and third down conversions (51 percent).

• 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).

• Saturday's showdown in Pittsburg, Kan., against the Gorillas will mark the 63rd meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1916. Pittsburg State leads the series, 47-13-2. Last season, the Mules fell to the Gorillas in Warrensburg, 48-35.

• DJ Brown rushed for a career-best 169 yards with one touchdown, and Brian Dykstra scored a fumble recovery for a touchdown, helping University of Central Missouri Mules Football to a 31-13 win over the Fort Hays State Tigers on Halloween Saturday afternoon, Oct. 31, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
• Central Missouri and Fort Hays State traded field goals to start the game, with Will Peacock converting a 24-yard attempt with 11:52 to go in the first quarter, putting UCM in front, 3-0.
• After the Tigers answered with a field goal of their own, quarterback Jordan Pachot connected with wide receiver Jake Weber on a 58-yard touchdown pass to give the Mules a 10-3 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the second quarter. Central Missouri went into halftime up, 10-6.
• Fort Hays State scored a touchdown to open the third quarter to take a 13-10 advantage, but the Mules responded immediately, regaining the lead, 17-13, when Pachot sprinted into the end zone with 8:55 on the clock in the third.
• Less than a minute later, Drew Kaufman forced a Fort Hays State fumble that was recovered by Dykstra, who ran the ball into the end zone for a 27-yard fumble-recovery touchdown, increasing Central Missouri's lead to 24-13.
• Brown put an exclamation mark on the game with 14:30 to go in the fourth quarter, posting a 31-yard rushing touchdown, his MIAA-best 13th rushing TD of the season, making it 31-13, Mules.
• Brown ended the game with a career-high 169 rushing yards on 21 carries with one touchdown, while Pachot was 22-of-33 for 200 yards with one passing TD, and Weber tallied 83 receiving yards on six catches with a touchdown, leading UCM offensively.
• Dykstra posted a fumble recovery TD, as well as an interception and pass breakup; Marcus Williams had nine tackles; and Kyan Franklin (12 yards) and Nick Biskey (six yards) both recorded quarterback sacks, leading the Central Missouri defense.
• For the game, UCM outgained Fort Hays State (3-6, 2-5 MIAA), 424 yards to 299 yards, including a 224-157 rushing and 200-142 passing advantage. UCM's 224 rushing yards marked the first time the Mules have compiled more yards on the ground than passing since Central Missouri's win at Missouri Southern during the 2023 season.
• FHSU quarterback Major Cantrell was 18-of-33 for 142 yards with a touchdown and an interception, pacing the Tigers.

• The Mules are 271-192-13 overall, and 2026 will be their 94th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
• Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 20-7 at home.

• Central Missouri has scored in 370 straight games, a MIAA record.
• The streak dates to week three of the 1991 season.

• In the 130 seasons of UCM Football, the Mules have compiled a 615-547-51 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 five times in the history of the program and have posted 18 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.

• 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.

• Central Missouri wraps up its 2026 regular season schedule with a home game against the Nebraska Kearney Lopers on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg. The Nov. 14 contest will also be Senior Day for Mules Football.