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Mules Comeback Effort at NWMSU
Falls Short

Steven Ehase led the Mules with nine tackles

The University of Central Missouri Mules showed their heart in hostile territory at No. 9 Northwest Missouri on Saturday, but they were stopped 28-26 on a failed two-point conversion attempt to tie with just over a minute remaining.

UCM quarterback Eric Czerniewski drove the squad 56 yards down the field in 2:21 (converting two fourth-down conversions) and hit Tim Richmond over the middle from nine yards out for the touchdown to get the chance at the conversion. The two-point pass attempt was batted down at the line of scrimmage though. Northwest Missouri recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock from there to seal the win.

The Bearcats (5-1, 5-0 MIAA) started the game on fire, moving the ball down the field for touchdowns on their first two possessions. Quarterback Josh Mathews completed his first 10 passes of the game and threw the first two scores to a couple All-Americans in tight end Mike Peterson and wide receiver Kendall Wright.

The Mules (4-3, 3-2 MIAA) didn’t give up though as the special teams unit got them into good field position on their next couple drives. In the second quarter the Mules recorded a 25-yard field goal from Marcelo Velazquez. They followed that with another score on their next possession. Czerniewski bought time with his feet and tossed a 45-yard touchdown to Damond Berry, cutting the margin to 14-10.

The Mules got some bad news on defense as All-American free safety Kendall Ricketts left the game with a knee injury and would not return.

The Bearcats took advantage of that on their next play from scrimmage as All-American running back Xavier Omon broke off an 80 yard touchdown run to extend the lead.

Central Missouri got one more chance before the half when it drove down to the Bearcats’ 18 yard line and attempted a field goal with 37 seconds left but Velazquez’ kick hit the right upright.

The Mules knew they had to keep the pressure on and establish a rushing attack in the second half as they were out-gained 257-to-141 in the opening stanza. They did just that on the opening drive with Glenn Milner, moving it down to the Bearcat seven yard line before stalling. They were forced to kick a field goal and made it 21-13 after a 14 play, 71 yard drive that took 5:51 off the clock.

Linebacker Mike Dillon intercepted Mathews on the next possession and gave the Mules a chance to cut the advantage, but on fourth down and two on the NWMSU 24, Jeremy Braden could only get one and turned the ball back to the Bearcats.

The Bearcats would again transfer a Mules chance into points though, and drove 76 yards down the field in the fourth quarter for another touchdown grab by Wright.

The Mules had their work cut out from there, but responded on the defensive end. With 8:47 remaining, they forced an Omon fumble and defensive end John Wood recovered it and gave UCM the ball at the Bearcat 39. Czerniewski tossed a ball into the endzone on the first play from scrimmage for Edgar Givens, who made an acrobatic catch over the defender and pulled it in for the score, making it 28-20 with 8:38 left.

The Mules ‘D’ came up big again on the next possession though, as Wood sacked Mathews and forced a fumble that Adrian Singletary recovered and returned to the Bearcat 18.

The Mules failed to get the touchdown, but with 5:38 left, they went for points on another field goal attempt from 26 yards out. The kick was blocked by Ryan Jones though, and the Mules knew they had to stop Northwest to get another chance to tie the game.

After three consecutive rushes from Omon, the Mules kept him from getting 10 yards and forced them to punt.

Czerniewski finished the day with a career-high 271 yards and three touchdowns on the day while Berry snagged six catches for 89 yards (also a career-high). Milner finished with 55 yards on 15 carries. Steven Ehase tacked up nine tackles to lead the defense.