Football | 9/30/2026 10:56:00 AM

• No. 21-ranked University of Central Missouri Mules Football (3-1, 2-0 MIAA) is back home at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field this weekend, hosting the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) in the annual Military Appreciation Game on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.
• UCM is coming off a 24-14 victory over the Missouri Southern Lions on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Joplin, Mo.
• Through four games, Central Missouri ranks in the top 10 in NCAA-II in third down conversions (3rd at 59 percent), passing offense (4th at 311.8 yards per game), total offense (7th at 491.5 yards per game)and red zone defense (8th at .571). Individually, quarterback Jordan Pachot is second in Division II in completions per game (25.5 per game) and fifth in passing yards per game (294.5 yards).
• In Saturday's win at Missouri Southern, wide receiver Jack Pospisil became the UCM all-time career receptions leader with his six catches in the game, which put him at 198 career receptions, vaulting him past former UCM wide receiver Arkell Smith, who had 196 from 2019-23.
• 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.

• 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.

• Passing: Jordan Pachot (QB): 102-155; 4 interceptions; 65.8 completion percentage; 1,178 passing yards; 9 touchdowns; 57 long; 294.5 yards per game
• Rushing: DJ Brown (RB): 64 carries; 402 rushing yards; 6.3 yards per carry; 7 touchdowns; 41 long; 100.5 yards per game
• Receiving: Jake Weber (WR): 24 catches, 302 yards, 12.6 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns, 30 long, 75.5 yards per game; Marlon Lindsey, Jr. (WR): 15 catches; 257 yards; 17.1 yards per catch; 4 touchdowns; 53 long; 64.3 yards per game; Jack Pospisil (WR): 28 catches, 205 yards, 7.3 yards per catch, 1 touchdown, 22 long, 51.3 yards per game
• Tackles: Marcus Williams (DL): 32 tackles (21 assisted, 11 solo)
• Tackles-for-Loss: Kyan Franklin (DL): 5.0 TFL for 18 yards
• Sacks: Kyan Franklin (DL): 2.0 sacks for 15 yards
• Takeaways: Abraham Hoskins III (DB): 2 interceptions

• Wide receiver Jack Pospisil continues to climb the UCM receiving record charts. Entering Saturday, he is the new UCM career receptions leader with 198, ranks fourth in career receiving yards with 2,245, and tied for sixth in career TD receptions with 18.

• Running back DJ Brown leads the MIAA in rushing through four games with 402 rushing yards on 64 carries. He also paces the conference with seven rushing TDs and is averaging 100.5 rushing yards per game.
• As a team, UCM is currently second in the conference in rushing with 713 rushing yards and 178.3 rushing yards per game.

• Quarterback Jordan Pachot paces the MIAA in passing through four games with 1,178 passing yards on 102 completions and 294.5 passing yards per game.
• The Mules as a team are currently second in the MIAA with 1,247 passing yards and 311.8 passing yards per game.

• The Mules lead the MIAA in both first downs (109 total, 27.3 per game) and third down conversions (58.1 percent). The UCM defense also paces the conference in opponent first downs, limiting adversaries to just 15.8 first downs per game.

• 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 contest against Central Oklahoma will mark the 14th meeting in the all-time series dating back to the first meeting in 2012. UCM leads the series, 9-4. Last season, the Mules escaped Edmond, Okla., with a thrilling 35-34 victory.

• University of Central Missouri Football outgained Missouri Southern in rushing yards, 150-97, to help the Mules turn back the Lions, 24-14, in a MIAA football game played on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 26, at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
• Central Missouri gained a 7-0 lead when running back DJ Brown powered into the end zone for a three-yard rushing touchdown with 14:52 to go in the second quarter, before linebacker Marcus Williams intercepted a Missouri Southern pass and returned it into the end zone, doubling the UCM advantage to 14-0 with 6:52 remaining in the second.
• The score would remain 14-0 heading into halftime.
• The Lions (1-3, 0-2 MIAA) opened the third quarter with a 10-minute drive that ended with a touchdown, trimming the Central Missouri lead to 14-7 with 4:54 to go in the stanza.
• UCM fifth-year wide receiver Jack Pospisil made history at the start of the fourth quarter, snagging his 197th career reception with 12:30 to go on the clock to break former Central Missouri standout wide receiver Arkell Smith's record of 196 set from 2019-2023.
• Pospisil's catch helped Central Missouri cap a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard TD run by Brown, his second rushing touchdown of the game, to build Central Missouri's lead to 21-7.
• MSSU didn't go quietly, however, and cut the UCM lead to 21-14 with a touchdown with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Central Missouri marched down the field, though, and Will Peacock converted a 35-yard field goal with just over one minute remaining, sealing the 24-14 triumph for UCM.
• Quarterback Jordan Pachot went 25-of-31 for 215 yards, Brown had 156 rushing yards on 28 carries with two touchdowns, Jake Weber posted 88 receiving yards on nine catches, and Pospisil had 44 receiving yards on six catches, leading the Mules offensively.
• Williams paced Central Missouri on the defensive side of the football, tallying nine tackles and an interception, while Drew Kaufman added nine tackles.
• For the game, the Mules outgained the Lions, 371 yards to 227 yards, including a 150-97 rushing and 215-130 passing advantage. UCM had 23 first downs and won the time-of-possession battle, 32:33 to 27:27.

• 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.

• Central Missouri has scored in 365 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 612-545-51 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.

• 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.

• The Mules travel to Maryville, Mo., for a MIAA showdown at No. 13-ranked Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1:30 p.m.