Big plays doom Mules as they fall 42-27 at Washburn

      Big plays and early inconsistent offense cost the Central Missouri State University Mules, as they fell 42-27 to Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

Penalties hurt the Mules early. Back-to-back false start infractions stopped CMSU’s first offensive drive inside Washburn territory, while a pair of defensive off-side penalties kept the Ichabods’ first drive alive. As a result, Washburn (3-0, 1-0 MIAA) took the early 7-0 lead when Jordan Brill connected with Mike Odupitan on a 44-yard scoring strike with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter.

The Mules (2-1, 0-1 MIAA) got a safety at the 0:25 mark of the first quarter when Washburn was forced to punt and the low snap went through the legs of punter Curt Massey. Massey alertly booted the ball out the back of the end zone to avoid the CMSU touchdown.

Washburn made the next big play on special teams, as a high snap resulted in punter Matt Frankel being drilled at the 24-yard line. The ‘Bods punched it in from the six, with Brill connecting with Jerad Tetuan for the 14-2 lead. And that is how the first half ended.

After stopping the Ichabods on their opening possession of the second half, the Mules caught a break. Washburn again had a problem on the snap, the balling rolling back to the punter. CMSU covered the play and set up shop at the Ichabod 30-yard line. A rush on first down resulted in a loss of three yards, but on second down Will Caldwell bounced outside for 10

yards. He got three on third down to make it first-and-10 from the Ichabod 20, and took it to the 15 one play later. No gain the next two plays made it fourth and six, setting up Spencer Webb’s 32-yard attempt. Webb punched it through for the first field goal of his career to make it 14-5 with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter.

Brill hit Cason Lehman from 19 yards out with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter to put Washburn up 21-5. The four-play, 26-yard drive was set up when Mike Spiegel was intercepted by Ichabod defensive tackle Nick Bull. Spiegel had his tight end, Zach Zwilling wide open in the middle of the field and threw a perfect strike, but Bull had dropped back in pursuit and stepped in front of the pass.

The Mules responded two plays later, as Toby Korrodi scrambled to his left and hit Micah Hefner crossing the middle to the right. Hefner picked up a block from Delanie Walker at about the Washburn 30 and finished the 81-yard play for the touchdown. The two-point conversion pass from Korrodi to Walker made it 21-13, Washburn.

But Washburn had an answer of its own. Fletcher Terrell caught the ensuing kickoff two yards deep in the end zone, and when he stopped running 102 yards later, it was 27-13, Ichabods.

Ra’Shawn Mosley added a 25-yard touchdown run with 8:51 remaining in the game to cap a 10-play, 90-yard drive for a 35-13 Washburn lead with 8:51 left.

Korrodi capped a 16-play, 80-yard drive at the 4:44 mark when he connected with Caldwell from 10 yards out on fourth and goal. The two-point conversion was no good, making it 35-19, Washburn.

When the on-side kick attempt failed, Washburn set up at the CMSU 41 yard line. Trent Hearn darted around left end 39 yards on second and eight to make it 42-19 with 4:00 remaining.

But the Mules would not go away. An eight-play, 80-yard CMSU drive ended when Korrodi and Walker connected on a 16-yard touchdown pass, and Korrodi and Hefner clicked on the two-

point conversion, making it 42-27 with 2:08 to go. But when the ensuing on-side kick failed, all the ‘Bods had to do was run out the clock.

Washburn out-gained the Mules 360 yards to 315. Korrodi finished the game going 17-of-25 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Caldwell had 126 all-purpose yards (72 rushing on 21 carries and 54 on seven receptions).

Sophomore free safety Kendall Ricketts had a team-leading nine tackles, followed by junior linebacker Glentrelle Ware with seven.