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Mules hold off Hornets for MIAA victory

Randy Shepherd played a key role defensively for the Mules in the victory

The 13th ranked Mules of Central Missouri survived a scare on Saturday against the Emporia State Hornets, holding them off 24-21 in the MIAA opener at Jones Field/Welch Stadium.

The Hornets (1-2, 0-1 MIAA) had a chance to tie it, but missed a 31 yard field goal wide left with two seconds remaining. Central Missouri’s (3-0, 1-0 MIAA) defense had a bend-but-don’t break performance as the Hornets piled up 478 yards of offense while holding the ball for 12:46 with no points in the fourth quarter.

The Mules got on the board first after pinning the Hornets deep in their own territory. UCM senior defensive end Mike Martin forced a fumble that was recovered by ESU on their own 11, forcing fourth down. The punt gave UCM the ball on the Hornet 35 after an eight-yard return by junior Adam Parks. It took the Mules just five plays, capped by an Eric Czerniewski run from a yard out to make it 7-0 with 2:49 left in the first quarter.

Another short field helped the Mules get their next points. The Hornets had a 28-yard field goal blocked by UCM defensive lineman P.J. South, and senior free safety Randy Shepherd picked it up and returned it to the ESU 20. It took only one play from there as junior Anthony Stewart ran it in with 3:03 left in the half.

That set the stage for a wild final minute of the period. Emporia State took the ball 61 yards in nine plays on the ensuing possession for their first score of the contest by running back Kevin Smart from a yard out with only 52 seconds left. The Central Missouri special teams came up big again though, as junior linebacker Cody Scribner blocked the extra point

The Mules set up shop at their own 31 with 46 seconds left, but a 26-yard completion from Czerniewski to junior Bobby Guillory put the Mules in business in ESU territory. UCM moved it down to the Emporia 28 before calling a timeout with 21 seconds left. Czerniewski completed his next two passes to get it in the endzone though, capped by a 12-yard strike to junior wideout Jamorris Warren with 10 seconds left, making it 21-6 at the break.

The Mules held ESU to only 162 yards in the period, while totaling 206 themselves. The tides turned after the break though.

ESU took its first possession of the second half for a touchdown, a 71-yard strike from Andre Sloan El to Matt Coursen.

The Mules answered with a 26-yard field goal from Aaron Jamieson, after a short field from a 45-yard kick return by junior Zain Gower.

The Hornets answered with another touchdown though, 68 yards in 11 plays, capped by a fourth down and 14 conversion TD strike to Coursen. That made it 24-21 with 2:53 left in the third quarter.

The Mules nearly answered on the next possession, thanks to another big kick return, this time from Guillory. It was not to be though, as Czerniewski was intercepted at the ESU 5-yard line off a pass that hit off DeMarco Cosby’s hands and into the arms of Shaunque Powell.

The Mules defense made plays when they counted in the final period though, stopping the Hornets on three drives in UCM territory. They forced a punt, turned it over on downs after a fourth and two, and watched the field goal sail wide left in the closing seconds.

Central Missouri tallied only 115 yards in the second half, while ESU put up 316. Czerniewski finished 14-of-28 for 194 yards with a TD and an INT. He completed only two passes in the final stanza.

Defensively, Shepherd and junior cornerback Kor’Ree Manson each had eight tackles, while Scribner and sophomore defensive back Andrew Bergeson each had seven stops.