UCM Mules kicker Samuel Knowlton (41) during an MIAA college football game against the Washburn University (WU) Ichabods at the Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg, Missouri on September 8, 2022.
Andrew Mather Photography

Football

Mules Football Entertains Northeastern State for Annual UCM Family Weekend Game Saturday

Game 5: Central Missouri (0-4, 0-4 MIAA) vs. Northeastern State (1-3, 1-3 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 1 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg. Mo. (Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field)
**UCM Family Weekend Game**
Radio: 1450 KOKO, 107.9 FM, 98.5 The BAR
TV: MIAA Network (PPV)

Live Stats | Live Audio | Game Notes (PDF)
SCENE SETTER
  • After a two-week road swing to Northwest Missouri and Nebraska Kearney, University of Central Missouri Mules football (0-4, 0-4 MIAA) returns home to the friendly confines of Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field Saturday, Oct. 1, for a 1 p.m. MIAA contest against the Northeastern State RiverHawks (1-3, 1-3 MIAA).
  • Saturday's game is the annual UCM Family Weekend contest.
  • Central Missouri is coming off a 38-6 setback at No. 19-ranked Nebraska Kearney Saturday, Sept. 24, in Kearney, Neb., while Northeastern State defeated Lincoln at home in Tahlequah, Okla., Saturday, 38-10.
  • 2022 marks the 125th season in Mules football history.
  • In the MIAA Football Preseason Polls, UCM was picked in a tie for seventh in the coaches' poll and ninth in the media poll. The RiverHawks were picked 11th in both preseason polls.
ON THE AIR
  • Saturday's game will be broadcast live on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar, the new 107.9 FM and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action, Joe Moore providing color commentary and Corrine Benedict on the sidelines.
  • The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's Blueframe Internet portal at http://www.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.
MULE LEADERS
  • Offense: With four games in the books, the Mules are paced offensively by redshirt sophomore quarterback Cedric Case (76-for-133 with 3 INT, 806 yds, 4 TD, 78 long, 201.5 yds/game, 92 yds rushing, 1 rushing TD), redshirt senior running back Xavier Jackson (15 catches, 209 yds, 1 TD, 55 long, 52.3 yds/game) and redshirt sophomore running back Avian Thomas (31 carries, 134 net yds, 20 long, 33.5 yds/game).
  • Defense: Through four games, UCM is paced defensively by redshirt sophomore defensive back Noah Blair (36 tackles [22 unassisted/14 assisted], 2 TFL/3 yds, 2 INT/31 yds, 2 breakup) and redshirt senior linebacker Travis DeGrate (21 tackles [6 solo/15 assisted], 2 TFL/6 yds, 0.5 sacks/4 yds).
  • Special Teams: Redshirt junior kicker Samuel Knowlton is 4-for-6 in field goals converted, hitting a season-long 42-yarder at Pittsburg State...Redshirt freshman punter Ethan Brown has 24 punts for 1,020 yards with an average distance of 42.5 yards and a long of 58.
SERIES HISTORY
  • Saturday's game against the RiverHawks will mark meeting 16 in the all-time series dating back to the first meeting in 1963. The Mules lead the series, 8-7. Last season, Central Missouri defeated Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla., 41-10.
LAST TIME OUT VS. NORTHEASTERN STATE
  • Logan Twehous threw for a career-high 405 yards and five touchdowns and Arkell Smith snagged a career-best three TDs, helping the University of Central Missouri Mules football team roll to a 41-10 victory at Northeastern State Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, on Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium.
  • Twehous, a redshirt junior quarterback from Columbia, Mo., completed 28 of 34 passes for his 405 yards and five touchdowns, while Smith, a redshirt sophomore wide receiver from Carthage, Mo., found the end zone three times on seven receptions and rolled up 133 yards through the air, and Koby Wilkerson rushed for 81 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown, pacing the UCM offense.
  • Senior Chima Dunga tallied a team-high six tackles, while Tre'Von Letts had a six-yard sack, Aundra Gilbert intercepted a pass, and Deven Smith had a 12-yard tackle-for-loss, leading the Mules defensively.
  • Central Missouri tallied 569 yards of total offense, including 405 yards passing and 188 yards rushing, while limiting Northeastern State to 352 yards overall, 34 rushing yards and 318 passing yards in the game.
  • The Mules were 9-for-14 on third-down conversions and an impressive 3-for-4 on converting fourth downs and posted a 34:16 to 25:03 advantage in time of possession.
  • Northeastern State quarterback Grant Elerick with 23-for-35 with an interception, 318 yards and threw for one touchdown, while Mark Wheeland caught seven passes, including a TD, and had 104 yards, pacing the RiverHawks.
ABOUT THE RIVERHAWKS
  • The Northeastern State University RiverHawks are 1-3 overall and in the MIAA after defeating the Lincoln Blue Tigers at home in Tahlequah, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 24, 38-10.
  • Through four games, Northeastern State is paced by graduate student quarterback Jacob Frazier (63-for-99, 6 INT, 591 yds, 7 TD, 37 long, 147.75 yds/game), senior running back Darius Salters (49 carries, 193 net yds, 25 long, 48.25 yds/game) and sophomore wide receiver Malik Antwine (16 catches, 215 yds, 2 TD, 37 long, 53.75 yds/game).
  • On the defensive side of the football, NSU is led by junior defensive back Jordan Lamonte (35 tackles [26 solo, 6 assisted], 3 breakups).
  • As a team, the RiverHawks are averaging 20.5 points per game while giving up 32.75 points per game. NSU has been outgained by its opponents so far this season, 1,516-1,193 yards.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
  • UCM is 0-4 in MIAA action entering Saturday's game against Northeastern State.
THE MULES AT HOME
  • The Mules are 251-186-13 overall and 2022 will be their 90th season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
  • Under Josh Lamberson, Central Missouri is 0-1 at home.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
  • Central Missouri has scored in 318 straight games.
  • The streak dates to week three of the 1991 season.
A LOOK AT THE 2022 MULES
  • Mules football welcomes back 12 starters from 2021, including All-MIAA offensive linemen Dan Sunderman and Kyle Linville, and wide receiver Arkell Smith.
  • Sunderman and Linville make up an experienced returning core for the UCM offensive line, with 2021 starters Ty Reynolds and Gabe Clark also back for 2022. All four started all 11 games for Central Missouri in 2021.
  • Smith is coming off a standout season in 2021, rolling up 673 yards on 42 catches with eight TDs in 11 games. Other returning wide receivers who had at least 10 catches in 2021 include Trevor Twehous (25 rec., 316 yds., 2 TD), Zion Perry (15 rec., 284 yds., 2 TD) and Malik Clayborn (13 rec., 136 yds., 2 TD).
  • Redshirt sophomore Cedric Case takes over as the starting quarterback for Central Missouri in 2022. Case, a native of Lincoln, Neb., saw action in two games for the Mules last season, going 10-for-16 with no interceptions, 159 yards and a touchdown. In Central Missouri's 77-35 win at Lincoln, Case compiled a career-best 117 yards, going 4-for-5 with an 85-yard TD pass to Zion Perry.
  • On the ground, UCM welcomes back one running back who had at least 35 carries last season in JD Kolb (36 att., 127 net yds., 2 TD).
  • Defensively, UCM welcomes back 2021 starters Travis DeGrate (40 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 FR, 3 FF), Cooper Crane (31 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 FR), Clay Griffin (24 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack), David Olajiga (18 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FR) and Azaiah Bello (8 tackles, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups).
  • On special teams, the Mules return 2021 starting punter Josh Reynolds (52 punts, 1,877 yards, 36.1 avg., 64 lg, 0 blk), kicker Sam Knowlton, long snapper Trace Staton and punt returner Jai Haynes.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
  • In the 124 seasons of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 580-530-51 record.
  • The Mules have won 10 or more games four times in the history of the program and have posted 13 seasons of eight or more wins.
  • UCM tied the program-record for wins in a season with 11 in 2019. The Mules also won 11 games in 2010 -- Josh Lamberson's first season as offensive coordinator for UCM.
  • UCM has won or shared 13 MIAA championships in school history with the last coming in 2019.
  • The Mules have qualified for the postseason 10 times in their history, including three trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs, the last coming in 2019.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
  • Central Missouri has won a combined 233 MIAA conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
  • Last season, UCM captured two regional championships in men's golf and women's soccer, and five MIAA Championships - women's soccer, volleyball (regular season and tournament) and baseball (regular season and tournament).
  • Since 1983, the tenure of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 179 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
  • Central Missouri has won 10 national championships during Hughes' tenure (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015, and women's soccer and women's basketball in 2017 and 2018) and 12 national championships overall.
  • 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, 78 Central Missouri football players have either been drafted or signed professional free-agent contracts.
ON THE HORIZON
  • Central Missouri heads back out on the road to Emporia, Kan., for a MIAA showdown at Emporia State Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Aundra Gilbert

#9 Aundra Gilbert

DB
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Tre

#53 Tre'Von Letts

DL
6' 1"
Freshman
Deven Smith

#40 Deven Smith

LB
6' 1"
Senior
Logan Twehous

#12 Logan Twehous

QB
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Koby Wilkerson

#5 Koby Wilkerson

RB
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Chima Dunga

#0 Chima Dunga

DL
6' 1"
Senior
Azaiah Bello

#2 Azaiah Bello

LB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

DB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

P
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Gabe Clark

#77 Gabe Clark

OL
6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
Malik Clayborn

#8 Malik Clayborn

TE
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Aundra Gilbert

#9 Aundra Gilbert

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
DB
Tre

#53 Tre'Von Letts

6' 1"
Freshman
DL
Deven Smith

#40 Deven Smith

6' 1"
Senior
LB
Logan Twehous

#12 Logan Twehous

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
QB
Koby Wilkerson

#5 Koby Wilkerson

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
RB
Chima Dunga

#0 Chima Dunga

6' 1"
Senior
DL
Azaiah Bello

#2 Azaiah Bello

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
LB
Noah Blair

#19 Noah Blair

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
DB
Ethan Brown

#24 Ethan Brown

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
P
Cedric Case

#10 Cedric Case

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Gabe Clark

#77 Gabe Clark

6' 5"
Redshirt Sophomore
OL
Malik Clayborn

#8 Malik Clayborn

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
TE