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Mules back in win column with triump over Bulldogs

Anthony Stewart picking up some of his 235 all-purpose yards during action Saturday.

(Photo by Dave Kopp)
See more photo's by Dave Kopp

The No. 20 Central Missouri Mules defense forced four turnovers and held Truman State to only 273 yards in a 38-3 win on Saturday at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field, as UCM answered its first loss of the year.

The Bulldogs got the first points of the game after converting a UCM interception deep in its own territory into a field goal with 2:49 left in the first quarter.

The Mules answered that with a lightning fast three-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Junior running back Anthony Stewart started the possession with a 56-yard tote, followed by two carries from Ken Hedrington, including the 15-yard scoring gallop. The drive took just 1:05.

Stewart had a monster day with 235 all-purpose yards, including 89 on the ground, and a school-record 146 yards receiving by a running back. The old record was set last season when Glenn Milner had 114 receiving yards against Emporia State.

TSU backup quarterback Taylor Breen (starting for the injured Phillip Davis) left the game after taking a big hit from junior defensive end Jeremy Wallace early in the second quarter, forcing the Bulldogs to bring in redshirt freshman Caleb Roberts. In his first snap, the exchange between him and running back Anton Bernard was fumbled, and junior bandit backer Karl Parker picked it up and ran it to the TSU 24.

Central Missouri was forced to kick a 26 yard field goal though, taking a 10-3 lead with 10:44 left. The defense set up the Mules next score as well. True freshman linebacker Devin King, who saw his first ever game action due to injuries at that position, forced a Truman fumble at the UCM 35, and was picked up by junior corner Deonte Ball.

A big 49-yard pass from junior quarterback Eric Czerniewski to Stewart set the Mules up for another score on the ensuing drive. He tossed a seven-yard pass to junior tight end DeMarco Cosby, who coasted into the endzone, making it 17-3.

The Mules weren’t done yet though, after forcing a Bulldog punt with 1:32 left, UCM took only 41 seconds to make it 24-3. Another pass to Stewart from 35 yards out helped him coast into the end zone untouched. All 146 of his receiving yards came in the first half.

Central Missouri didn’t start its next scoring drive until near the end of the third quarter, and they got it on a perfectly thrown ball by Czerniewski on third and 17 from the 30 into the final quarter. Senior wideout Bobby Guillory got open on a post route, and Czerniewski found him for the 30-yard score, making it 31-3 with 14:50 left.

Truman tried to threaten on its next drive, but a 34-yard pass into the end zone was intercepted by Ball. The Mules turned that into the final points of the day as well, going 80 yards in 12 plays while taking 5:26 off the clock. Backup QB Tommy Corwin came in to run the final six plays of the drive after a roughing the kicker penalty by Truman prolonged it. Zain Gower rushed in for the score from four yards with 8:24 left.

Central Missouri’s offense put up 439 yards (168 rushing, 271 passing). Czerniewski went 16-of-29 for 239 yards with three TD’s and an INT, while four different Mules had 20 yards rushing or more.

King was the defensive star in his first game, piling up 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Ball also picked up a fumble, and had a pick in the contest. Redshirt freshman linebacker Evan Knight made seven stops in his first career start.