Mules fall 31-21 in all-out battle at Northwest Missouri State

      The Central Missouri State University Mules had a battle in winning their Homecoming game last weekend vs. Missouri Southern. They gave No. 20 Northwest Missouri State University a battle on the Bearcats’ Homecoming, too. But in the end the Bearcats held on for a 31-21 win.

It was 17-14, Northwest, at the half. Central Missouri State (5-3, 3-3 MIAA) struck first on an 11-yard Toby Korrodi to Delanie Walker aerial with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

Northwest (6-2, 5-1 MIAA) responded with a TD of its own on a 39-yard pass from Josh Lamberson to E.J. Falkner.

The Bearcats tacked another touchdown on when Lamberson found Andre Rector from 34 yards out with 14:24 to go in the half.

After trading possessions, the Mules got a break. Following a short Lamberson punt, CMSU drove 37 yards on eight plays, Korrodi connecting with Ted Maxwell for the final two to knot the score at 14-14.

Tommy Frevert gave the lead back to the Bearcats with 3:28 to go in the half on a 27-yard field goal. That score stood after the third quarter.

The Bearcats jumped to a 24-14 lead at the 8:52 mark of the fourth quarter on a Xavier Omon two-yard run.

The Mules would not go away, though, driving 78 yards on 12 plays with Will Caldwell plunging over from the two to close within three, 24-21, with 4:45 remaining.

But on fourth and three with :55 left from the Mules’ 35, Lamberson hit Mike Peterson off play action for the game-clenching touchdown.

Korrodi finished the day 27-of-34 for 306 yards and two touchdowns. He threw his first interception of the year on a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game, breaking a streak of 186 consecutive passes without an INT. Walker had 10 receptions for 120 yards and Matt Jacobsen tacked on 96 yards on eight receptions.

The Mules ground game was completely stymied, as CMSU finished with just 19 yards on 31 carries. Caldwell had 44 on 16 runs.

Defensively sophomore free safety Kendall Ricketts had a game-high 11 tackles to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. Junior linebacker Glentrelle Ware added 10 stops (two for losses), a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a sack.