Mules Football Hits the Road to Joplin Saturday for MIAA Contest at Missouri Southern

Game 4: Central Missouri (2-1, 1-0 MIAA) vs. Missouri Southern (1-2, 0-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 26 | 1:00 p.m. | Joplin, Mo. (Fred G. Hughes Stadium)
Radio: 1450 KOKO AM, 92.1 FM, 98.5 The BAR FM (Greg Hassler, pxp; Jim Svoboda, color; Ryan Anderson, sideline)
Live Video (PPV): TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES

Live Stats | Live Audio | UCM Game Notes

SCENE SETTER

After being idle for a week, University of Central Missouri Mules Football (2-1, 1-0 MIAA) is set to travel to Joplin, Mo., for a 1 p.m. MIAA contest at Missouri Southern (1-2, 0-1 MIAA) on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
The Mules posted a 59-10 victory over Delta State in their last contest on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Warrensburg.
In the win over Delta State, UCM posted 674 yards of total offense -- its most total offense in a game since 2023.
Through three games, Central Missouri ranks in the top 10 in NCAA-II in red zone defense (2nd at 0.400), passing offense (3rd at 344 yards/game), total offense (4th at 531.7 yards/game), and third down conversions (5th at 0.574). Individually, quarterback Jordan Pachot leads Division II in completions per game (25.7 per game), ranks third in passing per game (321.0 yards), sixth in total offense (317 yards/game), and ninth in points responsible for per game (20.0). Receiver Marlon Lindsey Jr. is ninth in receiving TDs (4), and fellow receiver Jack Pospisil is ninth in receptions per game (7.3 per game).
Entering Saturday's game at Missouri Southern, Pospisil is just four receptions away (192) from tying former UCM standout wide receiver Arkell Smith (2019-23) for most career receptions in program history (196).
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.
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, former Mules Football Head Coach Jim Svoboda providing color commentary, and Ryan Anderson on the sidelines.
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): 77-of-124; 2 interceptions; 62.1 completion percentage; 963 passing yards; 9 touchdown; 57 long; 321 yards per game
Rushing: DJ Brown (RB): 36 carries; 246 rushing yards; 6.8 yards per carry; 5 touchdowns; 41 long; 82 yards per game
Receiving: Marlon Lindsey, Jr. (WR): 13 catches; 243 yards; 18.7 yards per catch; 4 touchdowns; 53 long; 81 yards per game.
Tackles: Marcus Williams (DL): 23 tackles (15 assisted, 8 solo)
Tackles-for-Loss: Kyan Franklin (DL): 4.0 TFL for 17 yards
Sacks: Kyan Franklin (DL): 2.0 sacks for 15 yards
Takeaways: Steven Richardson (DB), Abraham Hoskins III (DB), Trel Riley (DB), Tamarian Cashier (DB): 1 interception each; Chris Brown (LB): 1 fumble recovery

MIAA WEEKLY HONORS

University of Central Missouri Mules Football had two student-athletes earn MIAA Football Athlete of the Week honors for their performances on the football field during the week of Sept. 7-13.
Quarterback Jordan Pachot earned his second straight Offensive Athlete of the Week accolade, while kicker Will Peacock garnered Special Teams Athlete of the Week.
Pachot, a fifth-year from Highland, Calif., went 32-of-47 for 391 passing yards, threw for four passing touchdowns, and added a four-yard rushing TD in UCM's 59-10 win over Delta State on Saturday evening, Sept. 12, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field. He tossed passing touchdowns of 47, 53, 57, and 17 yards in the win and helped the Mules post the most total offense since 2023 at 674 yards.
Peacock, a senior from Greenwood, Mo., went a perfect 8-for-8 in PAT attempts and connected on a 34-yard field goal during Central Missouri's victory over Delta State. On the season, Peacock is 17-of-17 in extra-point attempts. This is Peacock's first-career MIAA Athlete of the Week honor.

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 Missouri Southern will be meeting number 47 in the all-time series, going back to 1973. Central Missouri leads the overall series, 28-16-2. Last season, the Mules defeated the Lions in Warrensburg, 62-10, on Sept. 27. UCM has won its last four meetings against Missouri Southern, and is 9-1 in its last 10 encounters with MSSU.

LAST TIME OUT: MULES FOOTBALL ROLLS PAST DELTA STATE SATURDAY IN UCM FAMILY WEEKEND GAME, 59-10

The University of Central Missouri Mules Football team posted 674 yards of total offense as it rolled past the Delta State University Statesmen, 59-10, in the annual UCM Family Weekend game played on Saturday evening, Sept. 12, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
Central Missouri outscored Delta State (0-3), 31-7 in the first half and never looked back en route to the 49-point margin of victory.
Quarterback Jordan Pachot found wide receiver Marlon Lindsey, Jr., for touchdown passes of 47 and 53 yards in the first quarter to put UCM up 14-0 before powering into the endzone from four yards out for a rushing TD, putting the Mules up 21-0, with 13:10 to go in the second quarter.
Pachot connected with wide receiver Andre Jackson on a 57-yard TD pass with 6:16 on the clock in the second, ballooning the UCM advantage to 28-0.
The Statesmen got on the scoreboard on a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but Central Missouri kicker Will Peacock converted a 34-yard field goal with 11 seconds to go in the second quarter, sending the Mules into halftime up 31-7.
UCM kept its foot on the accelerator in the second half. Running back Gracien Anto found the endzone on a one-yard run for his first career touchdown with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter prior to wide receiver Jake Weber reeling in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Pachot at the 3:55 mark of the frame, building the UCM lead to 45-7.
Sophomore quarterback Logan Malachuk threw his first-career TD pass to receiver Armand Russell with 11:34 to go in the fourth quarter, and fellow receiver Aazeryan Voss corralled a 28-yard pass from Malachuk in the endzone, making it 59-10, UCM, with 3:18 remaining in the stanza.
Pachot went 32-of-47 for 391 passing yards and had five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) on the night, while Malachuk was 5-of-7 for 69 yards and two TDs.
Lindsey tallied a career-high 106 receiving yards with two touchdowns on four catches, Weber had 99 yards on eight receptions, Jack Pospisil posted 12 catches for 74 yards, and running back Tank Young rushed for 86 yards on 13 carries, leading Central Missouri offensively.
Marcus Williams tallied six tackles, Drew Kaufman added five tackles, Abraham Hoskins III, Tamarian Cashier, and Trel Riley posted interceptions, Jalen Thomas forced a fumble, and Chris Brown had a fumble recovery, pacing the UCM defense.
Central Missouri's 674 yards of total offense were the most in a single game since UCM had 745 total yards in a 63-27 victory at Lincoln during the 2023 season.
The Mules outgained the Statesmen in rushing yards, 219 to 84, and posted a 460 to 111 advantage in passing yards. UCM had 35 first downs while limiting Delta State to just eight in the entire game, and won the time-of-possession battle, 36:44 to 23:16.

POSPISIL CLIMBING THE RECORD CHARTS

Wide receiver Jack Pospisil continues to climb the UCM receiving record charts. Entering Saturday, he ranks second in career receptions with 192, fifth in career receiving yards with 2,201, and tied for sixth in career TD receptions with 18.

THE MULES AT HOME

The Mules are 268-192-13 overall, and 2026 will be their 94th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 17-7 at home.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES

Central Missouri has scored in 364 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 611-545-51 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.

UP NEXT

The Mules are back home at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg for the annual Military Appreciation Game on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

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