The Mules (4-4, 3-4 MIAA) wasted no time in taking the lead. UCM took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in five plays, capped by a LaVance Taylor 16-yard touchdown run to lead 7-0.
Northeastern State (0-8, 0-7 MIAA) drove into UCM territory on their ensuing possession, but the drive stalled and Drew Patton’s 54-yard field goal attempt came up just short. UCM took the ball from their own 37 and drove to the NSU 16 before Zach Gebhardt booted his first of three field goals, this from 33 yards to give the Mules a 10-0 advantage.
The Mules made it 17-0 on their next possession when Hayden Hawk hit Tristan McClelland for a 14-yard touchdown on fourth and five and the rout was on. Hawk hit Ronrei Lloyd for a 23-yard touchdown on the next possession and the Mules led 24-0 just into the second quarter.
Central Missouri extended the lead to 27-0 at halftime when Gebhardt drilled a 30 yard field goal with just over a minute to play in the half. The field goal capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive.
The Mules got Gebhardt’s third field goal of the game on their first drive of the second half, this one from 34 yards and the lead grew to 30-0.
Following a UCM interception, the RiverHawks took over at their own five yard line. Two plays later, Zach Quines picked off Thor Long and returned it three yards for his second pick six of the season and the Mules led 37-0.
Evan Campbell got in on the action early in the fourth quarter when he plunged into the end zone from a yard out capping a 15-play, 86-yard drive and the Mules led 44-0.
The RiverHawks got on the board on their next possession. Cory Meadors found Prince McJunkins for a 28-yard touchdown and the UCM lead was 44-7.
Central Missouri capped the scoring on the ensuing possession. A 10-play, 65-yard drive was capped off with a Kellen Kempf one-yard touchdown run and UCM had their final margin of victory at 51-7.
The Mules 603 yards of total offense are the seventh most in a single game in school history and the second straight game with 600 yards of total offense. UCM racked up 374 yards rushing in the game, the seventh most in a single game in UCM history, including 137 from Taylor on just 10 carries.
Hawk was 16 of 33 for 211 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Anthony Kirkwood had three receptions for 45 yards. Sean Gorman and McClelland also had three catches apiece as eight different Mules caught passes. Lloyd had two catches for 37 yards and a score. He is now tied for fifth all-time at UCM with 17 career touchdown receptions.
Defensively, the Mules held NSU to just 215 yards of total offense, including 39 yards rushing on 35 carries. Josh Powell had six tackles, including three quarterback sacks for minus 24 yards. His three sacks are tied for the sixth most in a single-game and the UCM defense’s seven total sacks are tied for the fourth most in a game in school history.Alex Perlin also had six tackles, with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Long was 10 of 25 passing for 83 yards for the RiverHawks while Meaders was 8 of 12 for 93 yards and a touchdown. Terrance Dixon had 40 yards rushing on 16 carries. Kyler Harris had 18 tackles to lead the NSU defense, including 13 solo stops.
The Mules are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Kearney, Neb. to take on the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney. Game time is set for 12 p.m. The game can be heard live on the 44,000-watt 98.5 The Bar, 1450 KOKO and warrensburgradio.com. The Mules Tailgate Show will begin at 10:40 a.m.