1999 MULES' FOOTBALL FACT SHEET - GAME 8

The Game: CMSU at Missouri Western State College, Oct. 23, 1999, 2 p.m.; MWSC's Spratt Stadium (6,000 - natural grass), St. Joseph, Mo.; Missouri Western's Homecoming game.

The Mules (4-3-0, 2-3-0 MIAA): They won their Homecoming game with a 41-0 decision over winless University of Missouri-Rolla. Jason Graham rushed for a career-high 209 yards and three touchdowns (10, 23, 1 yard) in 25 carries to record his third straight 100-yard rushing game and fourth of the season. He had 167 against Truman State University and 138 against Washburn University the previous two games and 101 against Winona State University on Sept. 4. His performance earned him the MIAA offensive player of the week award, while his 209 yards were the most by a Mules' player since Larry Jefferson rushed for 223 yards against Missouri-Rolla in 1996. In the Mules' last three games, Graham has averaged 5.6 yards per carry and 171.3 yards per game. He leads the Mules with 736 yards rushing for the season, an average of 105.1 yards per game, which ranks second in the MIAA this week. Dexter Ford saw his first action since the Washburn game and rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns in 11 carries. Ryan Koob replaced John Holmes at quarterback in the second quarter and helped engineer a strong running game that produced 388 yards rushing, the Mules' top effort this season. Koob threw only four passes, completing two, for 15 yards. The Mules limited Missouri-Rolla to 168 yards in total offense (89 rushing, 79 passing). Free safety Lamont Truitt led the Mules' defensive effort against UMR with 10 tackles. The Mules top the MIAA in rushing defense, allowing just 102.1 yards per game, and in total defense, allowing 246.7 yards per game. Linebacker RheQuan Robinson leads the Mules in tackles with 62. Sack leader Colston Weatherington recorded his 10th of the season against the Miners. He needs five more to break CMSU's season mark of 14 set by Milt Sanderman in 1984.

The Griffons (4-3-0, 3-2-0 MIAA): They scored 21 fourth quarter points to register a 28-19 come-from-behind win at Truman State University last Saturday. Quarterback Kasey Waterman completed 19 of 34 passes for 181 yards, including a 69-yard scoring pass to Brandon Burnside with 6:31 remaining to take the lead for good. Burnside finished with six catches for 118 yards, while tailback Mike Connaker rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries. Linebacker Jered Curl led the Griffons' defensive effort against Truman with 16 tackles and earned the MIAA defensive player of the week award. For the season, the Griffons are ranked second in the MIAA this week in total offense with an average of 393.6 yards per game. They also are ranked second in passing offense (214.6 ypg) and in scoring offense (35.3 ppg). Connaker is sixth in rushing in the MIAA (85.1 ypg), Waterman ranks third in passing yards (194.3 pg) and Burnside is sixth in receiving (25 receptions, 444 yards). Curl leads the Griffons' defense with 79 tackles.

The Coaches: Willie Fritz is in his third season at Central Missouri with a record of 17-12. The Mules were 8-3-0 last season after going 5-6-0 in 1997. Fritz came to Central Missouri after four years as head coach at Blinn College (Texas), where he compiled a 39-5-1 record. His last two teams at Blinn each went 12-0-0 and won the junior college national championship each year (1995 & 1996). Fritz is 1-1-0 vs. Missouri Western. Jerry Partridge is in his third season at Missouri Western, with a record of 14-15-0. He is 1-1-0 vs. Central Missouri.

The Series: The Mules lead the series 9-5 and there has been one tie. Since the Griffons began MIAA competition in 1989, the Mules have won six of the 10 meetings, with one tie. MWSC's last win in the series was a 27-24 overtime decision in the 1997 season finale at St. Joseph.

Last Year: The Mules won 38-28 in Warrensburg in the final game of the 1998 season, which was also televised by Metro Sports. The Mules led 31-7 at halftime. Dexter Ford rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns in 18 carries to pace a CMSU rushing attack that produced 272 yards. The Griffons' Kasey Waterman completed 13 of 45 passes for 227 yards and two TDs, but was intercepted three times. MWSC also lost two fumbles. Brandon Burnside had four catches for 134 yards and a touchdown for the Griffons.

Last Time in St. Joseph: The Griffons won 27-24 in overtime in the final game of the 1997 season. MWSC drove 91 yards, converted on third down four times and scored with 17 seconds to play to force the overtime. The Mules had to settle for a field goal on their overtime possession, but the Griffons scored a touchdown on the seventh play of their possession to win it.

Mules' Injuries: The Mules did not have any serious injuries in the UMR game.

Mules on Radio: KLRQ-FM (96.1) in Clinton will broadcast the game live with Bob Jackson calling the game. Air time will be 1:45 p.m. The broadcast also will be available on the TEAMLINE telephone service by calling (800) 846-4700, then entering 3946 and following the instructions for credit card billing. KLRQ also will have the broadcast available on its Web site at http://www.klrq.com.

Next Game: The Mules play at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1:30 p.m. in SBU's Homecoming game. Missouri Western plays at home on Oct. 30 against Missouri Southern State College in a 1:30 p.m. game.