KICKOFF
• The 20th/10th-ranked Mules kick off the 2016 season on the road at 24th-ranked Pittsburg State on Thursday, Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.
• The Mules were 8-3 a season ago and finished in a tie for third in the MIAA standings, narrowly missing out on a postseason berth.
• Pittsburg State was 6-5 last season and finished in a tie for fifth in the conference standings.
• UCM was picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls with Pittsburg State picked third in both.
ON THE AIR
• The game will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action. The Spin Pizza - Bob Showers of Ameritas Financial Tailgate Show will begin at 5:50 p.m. on the UCM Sports Network.
• The game will also be webcast online through Central Missouri's Stretch Internet portal at
UCMathletics.com/gamecentral. It is a pay-per-view webcast.
STORY LINES
• This will be the 12th season-opening meeting between Central Missouri and Pittsburg State, but the first since 1966. The Gorillas are 9-1-1 against the Mules in season-openers.
• The Mules were second in the MIAA in total offense and third in the league total defense in 2015.
• The Mules will play six of their 11 regular season games at home this season. It is just the second time in the last seven seasons that UCM will play more home games than road games.
• The Mules went 8-3 overall last season and finished in a tie for third place in the MIAA standing.
• The Mules had their ninth straight winning season in 2015. It was the 17th winning season in the last 18 years for UCM.
RANKINGS
• The Mules appear in both Division II preseason polls. UCM is ranked No. 20 in the AFCA Preseason Poll and 10th in the D2Football.com poll.
• The Gorillas are ranked No. 24 in the D2Football.com preseason poll.
SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the 54th all-time meeting between Central Missouri and Pittsburg State with the Gorillas holding a 42-9-2 lead.
• UCM's 34-6 win last year in Warrensburg snapped a four-game PSU winning streak in the series.
• The Mules are 2-4 against Pittsburg State under
Jim Svoboda, while the Gorillas are 4-2 against UCM under Tim Beck.
• In the six meetings under the current head coaches UCM is averaging 26.8 points per game, while the Gorillas are averaging 27.2.
• The Mules have only beat Pittsburg State in back-to-back games once in the previous 53 meetings, 2009 and 2010.
LAST MEETING WITH PITTSBURG STATE
• The Mules held Pittsburg State out of the endzone for the first time in 2015 en route to a 34-6 win on Senior Day at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
•
Ian Toalson rumbled 70 yards on a fake punt to put UCM on the board 7-0.
• PSU got a pair of field goals from Chad Levin to pull within 7-6 in the second quarter, but a
Billy Greco 39-yard field goal gave the Mules a 10-6 halftime lead.
•
Garrett Fugate hit
Andrew Bakker for a 79-yard scoring strike on third and long to give UCM a 17-6 lead midway through the third quarter.
• The Mules would tack on 17 points in the fourth quarter for the 34-6 win.
• UCM outgained PSU 384-328 in the game and forced two Gorilla turnovers.
ABOUT THE GORILLAS
• Pittsburg State was picked to finish third in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media polls. The Gorillas were tied for third in the coaches poll and received one first-place vote.
• PSU is led by seventh-year head coach Tim Beck, who has compiled a 53-19 record during his tenure in Pittsburg.
• Pittsburg State wide receivers coach Matt Karleskint is the brother of UCM head basketball coach
Doug Karleskint.
• The Gorillas were 6-5 a season ago and tied for fifth in the MIAA standings.
• PSU was fifth in the MIAA in scoring offense (30.5 ppg) and eighth (28.5) in scoring defense in 2015. The Gorillas were fifth in total offense at 405.5 yards per game and eighth in total defense, giving up 403.9 yards per contest. They were second in the league in rushing offense (231.6 ypg), fifth (156.1 ypg) in rushing defense, 10th (168.8 ypg) in passing offense and 11th (247.8) in passing defense.
LAST TIME OUT
• The 13th-ranked Mules couldn't overcome five turnovers as they fell to Fort Hays State 28-14 in the 2015 season finale in Hays, Kan.
• The Tigers jumped out to a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter. The Mules scored to cut the deficit to 28-14 and had a few opportunities to pull even closer, but a turnover in the red zone and another late interception thwarted those chances as FHSU earned the win.
•
Garrett Fugate was 20-of-34 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times and sacked five times.
• The Mules were held to 75 yards rushing on 32 carries.
• The Tigers ran for 326 yards and two scores, while passing for 115 yards and two more scores.
THE MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules were 8-3 in MIAA play last season and 40-19 in conference games under
Jim Svoboda.
MULES IN SEASON OPENERS
• The Mules are 3-3 in season-openers under head coach
Jim Svoboda.
• UCM rallied to beat Missouri Western 18-17 in last year's MIAA and season-opener to snap a three-game season-opening losing streak.
MULES IN MIAA PLAY
• The Mules enter the 2015 season 32-16 in conference games under
Jim Svoboda.
• They went 7-4 in MIAA play last season and finished in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings.
THE MULES ON THE ROAD
• Central Missouri went 4-2 on the road last season and the Mules are 22-13 in road games during the
Jim Svoboda era.
WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
• The Mules are 39-7 during the
Jim Svoboda era when leading at halftime.
• The Mules are 6-14 under Svoboda when trailing at halftime.
21 AND UP
• UCM is 45-10 under
Jim Svoboda when scoring at least 21 points.
• When scoring 30 or more points, UCM is 45-4 during the Svoboda era and 27-1 when scoring 40 or more points.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
• With
Jaylen Zachery's 34-yard touchdown reception in the 2015 season finale at Fort Hays State, the Mules extended their MIAA record streak of consecutive games without being shutout to 271.
• The streak dates back to week three of the 1991 season.
NEW LOOK 'D'
• UCM will make the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense this year under new defensive coordinator
Wes Bell. He comes to UCM after spending the last nine years at Missouri Western, including the the last two as defensive coordinator.
• Bell's defense was second in the MIAA last year in scoring defense, allowing just 19.7 points per game. They were second in total defense as well, giving up 346.6 yards per game.
• The unit was second against the run (121.7 ypg) and fourth against the pass (224.9 ypg). They had the second most interceptions in the league and were fifth in sacks with 29.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• The Mules return six starters on an offensive unit that was third in the MIAA in scoring (35.5 ppg), second in total offense (470.1 ypg), fourth in rushing (191.9) and third in passing offense (278.2).
• The Mules return Second Team All-MIAA QB
Garrett Fugate, who threw for 2,613 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also rushing for 519 yards and eight scores.
• UCM has three starters back on the offensive line.
Derrick Puni was a Second Team All-MIAA pick after starting all 11 games at right tackle. He will make the move to left tackle this season.
Chris Gomez was an Honorable Mention All-MIAA pick last year at left guard and has made 20 career starts.
Layne Fischer started every game at right guard in 2015 and has 17 career starts.
• First Team All-MIAA wide receiver
Jaylen Zachery and Honorable Mention selection
Andrew Bakker both return on the outside. Zachery had 51 catches for 933 yards and five scores, while Bakker caught 25 passes for 403 yards and a TD.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Central Missouri returns nine starters from a defense that was third in the MIAA in 2015 in scoring defense (20.6 ppg), rushing defense (131.6 ypg) and total defense (365.8 ypg).
• UCM returns the top three tacklers from last year's squad. All-MIAA linebacker
Austin Miller led the team with 86 tackles to go along with 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Fellow linebacker
Alex Lackey was second on the squad with 83 tackles and All-MIAA safety
Tevin Teamer had 62 tackles, including a team-high 47 solo stops.
• The Mules also return four starters from the defensive front as they switch to a 3-4 defense this season.
Josh Powell returns after earning Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors a season ago. He has 32 career starts at defensive end.
Connor Flagel started nine games at defensive end and was sixth on the team in tackles in 2015.
Dalainey Taala and
Triphinue Taylor also return after starting five and six games, respectively, last year.
• Three Mules return in the defensive backfield with All-MIAA players
Tevin Teamer and
Monteze Latimore, in addition to
Jackson Newman. Latimore led the team with four interceptions, while Newman was sixth on the team with 43 tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• All-American placekicker
Billy Greco returns after making 17 field goals in 2015, the second most in a single-season in UCM history. His 94 points scored were also the second most ever by a kicker.
•
Jackson Newman and
Jaylen Zachery are back in the return game as well. Zachery was Honorable Mention All-MIAA as a returner in addition to his First Team nod at receiver.
• Junior long-snapper
Garrett Cline also returns. He took over snapping duties midway through his freshman season and continues to hold down that spot.
A WIN OVER PITTSBURG STATE WOULD...
• Give UCM back-to-back season-opening wins for the first time since 2010-11.
• Give the Mules two straight wins over Pittsburg State for just the second time in school history.
• Snap a two-game skid against the Gorillas in Pittsburg.
A LOSS TO PITTSBURG STATE WOULD...
• Drop the Mules to 0-1 for the fourth time in five seasons.
• Give Pittsburg State a 43-9-2 lead in the all-time series and three straight wins in Pittsburg.
MULES FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In the 120th season of UCM Football the Mules have compiled a 542-505-51 (.517) record in 1,098 total games.
• The Mules have won 10 or more games three times in the history of the program and have posted 12 seasons of eight or more wins.
• UCM won a school-record 11 games in
Jim Svoboda's first season in 2010.
• UCM has won or shared 12 MIAA championships in school history with the last coming in 2003.
• The Mules have qualified for the postseason eight times in their history, including two trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs, the last coming in 2010.
SVOBODA AT THE HELM
• Central Missouri head coach
Jim Svoboda has a record of 47-22 (.681) in his seventh season leading the Mules. He has led the Mules to three postseason appearances.
• He is third on UCM's career wins list.
• Svoboda's .681 winning percentage entering the 2016 season is the fourth highest for a UCM coach.
• UCM posted the second most wins in a two-year span in school history in Svoboda's first two seasons.
• The Mules appeared in the postseason in each of Svoboda's first two seasons. UCM made the NCAA-II Playoffs in year one under Svoboda and earned a bid to the Kanza Bowl in his second season. It is just the second time in school history that Mules Football has made back-to-back postseason appearances.
• UCM hosted the first ever playoff game in school history and won the school's first two playoff games in Svoboda's first season in 2010.
• The Mules have set or tied 83 school offensive records and 21 MIAA offensive records during Svoboda's tenure.
• The Mules became the first team in NCAA-II history to have a 5,000-yard passer (Eric Czerniewski) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Anthony Stewart) in the same season when they accomplished that feat in 2010.
MULES IN THE PROS
• There is one former Mule currently on an NFL roster. Tight end Delanie Walker is in his 11th season in the league and his fourth with the Tennessee Titans. Walker signed a four-year deal with the Titans after playing in Super Bowl XLVII with San Francisco. Walker has 340 catches for 4,014 yards with 24 touchdowns in his career. Last year, he caught 94 passes for 1,088 yards and six touchdowns and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
• Walker was inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame in February 2015.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
• Central Missouri has won a combined 207 MIAA regular season conference championships in 14 league sports to lead all schools.
• Last season, UCM captured two MIAA regular season titles, three MIAA Tournament crowns and three NCAA Regional Championships.
• Since 1983, the tenure of Athletic Director
Jerry Hughes, UCM has won or shared 153 MIAA championships, more than any other league school.
• Central Missouri has won eight national championships since 1980 (men's and women's basketball in 1984, baseball in 1994 and 2003, women's bowling in 2003, men's basketball in 2014, and women's indoor and outdoor track & field in 2015) and 10 national championships overall.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Central Missouri had 232 student-athletes named to the 2015-16 MIAA Academic Honor Roll with grade point averages of 3.0 or higher.
• 28 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Scholar Athletes with at least a 3.5 GPA and having earned all-MIAA honors in their respective sport.
• 19 UCM student-athletes were named MIAA Academic Excellence Award winners with a 4.0 GPA.
• UCM had seven student-athletes earn Academic All-Region awards in their respective sports with four of those earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
• Since the year 2000, UCM is sixth in NCAA-II with 53 Academic All-Americans.
• Two UCM student-athletes were awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last year.
MULES FOOTBALL ON THE AIR
• The Bob Showers of Ameritas Investment Corp.
Jim Svoboda Mules Football Radio Show, Live from Traditions Restaurant airs on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. on 98.5 The Bar and 1450 KOKO as well as online at warrensburgradio.com.
• The show is broadcast live from the patio at Traditions Restaurant at the Audrey J. Walton Clubhouse at Mules National Golf Club.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
• Live video coverage for all Central Missouri home and away MIAA games will be available through Stretch Internet on a pay-per-view basis.
• Fans can access webcasts by going to UCMathletics.com/gamecentral or by clicking on the links located on the Mules Football schedule page.
UP NEXT
• The Mules welcome Fort Hays State to Warrensburg next Thursday, Sept. 8 for the 2016 home opener.
• The Get the Red Out Street Fair will take place from 4-6:30 p.m. with kickoff at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field set for 7 p.m.
