Mules football fell in its season opener 20-16 to No. 5 Fort Hays State after leading by 10 points going into the fourth quarter.
Additionally, the Mules lost quarterback Brook Bolles in the third quarter with an undisclosed arm injury.
Central Missouri was the superior team on paper, out-gaining the Tigers by nearly 200 yards in total offense.
On their first drive of the game, the Mules marched down the field using only six plays to move 71 yards before a fumble by Devante Turner in the red zone brought the defense on the field.
The Mules defense was all over the Tigers in the first quarter forcing punts on all three drives. Bolles and the Mules continued to move the ball efficiently this time going 87 yards in six plays, sparked by a 64-yard catch and run by Ryan Sass resulting in a field goal to make it 3-0.
In the second quarter, the Mules made their third appearance in the red zone before being forced to attempt a 35-yard field goal. The Tigers blocked the field goal and went down the field to tie the game with a field goal of their own. The Mules offense continued to click at the end of the half when Bolles found Kyrion Parker for the first touchdown of the game to give Central Missouri a 10-3 lead at halftime.
The Tigers opened the second half with a field goal after converting two third-and-long situations to make the score 10-6.
The Mules committed two penalties in the first drive of the half setting up a long third down. The defining play of the game came when Bolles scrambled before being dragged down by his throwing arm resulting in an injury which brought backup quarterback Kyle Bradley into the game.
Good field position and a 43-yard touchdown run from Devante Turner made it a 16-6 Mules lead after Fort Hays executed the second blocked kick of the game on the Mules extra point attempt.
With under five minutes left in the game, the Tigers scored back-to-back touchdowns, the second after a Mules fumble, to give Fort Hays a 20-16 lead. The Mules had the ball with just under three minutes to play and were moving into Tiger territory in the final minute before an interception ended the Mules hopes of escaping with a win.
Bolles went 14-22 for 197 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game. Turner rushed for 109 yards on 12 carries with his longest run coming on the 43-yard touchdown. On the defensive side, linebacker Kolesen Crane made five tackles and one sack.
The Mules move forward to their home opener with Northeastern State scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6 at Walton Stadium.