Mules drop another heartbreaker

                The University of Central Missouri Mules have now had the lead in the second half of all three of their losses this season as they dropped a 30-20 decision to the 17th ranked Missouri Western Griffons on Saturday at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
            Central Missouri trailed in the first quarter after a 28-yard touchdown pass from Michael Burton to Andrew Mead. The Mules answered with a drive of their own capped by a Will Caldwell five-yard touchdown at 6:14 remaining in the first quarter. The Griffons would block Spencer Webb’s extra point attempt to keep a one-point lead. They extended that lead later in the first with a 34-yard Dustin Strickler field goal.
            The Mules went on the run early in the second quarter before a 17-yard Toby Korrodi touchdown pass to Matt Jacobsen gave the Mules their first lead of the day, 13-10. On the next UCM drive, Jacobsen ran what looked to be like a reverse, but he tossed a 22-yard pass to Mike Spiegel in the endzone to give the Mules a 10-point advantage. The Mules continued a season-long trend late in the quarter, missing two field goals wide right from 41 and 42 yards away. The first half miscues cost the Mules seven points. Those points would end up costing the Mules late in the game.
            The third quarter was back and forth with field position battles before the Griffons made the first of a few big second half plays. Chris Pulver blocked a Mules punt and recovered it at the UCM 23 yard line. The Central Missouri defense would forced them to attempt a 41-yard field goal but Strickler was up to the task as he hit it right down the middle to make in 20-13 at the end of the third.
            The Griffons, after being pinned at their own three yard line, drove 72 yards in 11 plays to start the fourth quarter and finished it off with another field goal, this time Strickler hit it from 42 yards away. After going three and out on the next drive, UCM punted and gave the Griffons an opportunity to take the lead. They drove to the Central Missouri 30 before getting held up on fourth and one. After calling a time out, they decided to go for it. Griffon running back Jeremiah White, after being held in check most of the game, broke for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Griffons a 23-20 lead with 5:11 remaining.
            The Mules moved the ball to mid field on the next possession, but on third and 10, the snap flew past Korrodi and the Griffons recovered on the UCM 25. The Central Missouri defense held again but on fourth and six, Missouri Western handed the ball to White again, and he delivered again. This time the touchdown was from 21 yards out to seal the game with 1:23 remaining.
            The Griffons defeated the Mules for the fourth consecutive time and handed the Mules their third MIAA loss of the season.
            On a positive note, Korrodi extended his consecutive games with a touchdown streak to 11 games and broke his own consecutive attempts without an interception record with his 198th on Saturday. He threw for 259 yards but was sacked five times on the day.
            Jacobsen had his first career 100-yard receiving game with 111 in the first half (he left the game with a separated shoulder just before halftime. Central Missouri was held to -13 yards on the ground, thanks to the sacks and only 59 yards from Caldwell.
            White totaled 142 yards on 25 carries while the quarterback combo of Burton and Matt Landes threw for 170 yards.