WARRENSBURG — No. 11 Central Missouri football handled its business against Fort Hays State, while Missouri Western paid the Mules a favor.
A 47-28 UCM win against the Tigers combined with a Griffons victory over previously unbeaten Pittsburg State to give the Mules a share of their first MIAA title since 2019 on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Word of Missouri Western’s 31-30 upset of the Gorillas reached the sidelines of Walton Stadium at Kennedy Field with under two minutes remaining.
“Some other people kind of knew during the game,” Central Missouri redshirt junior defensive back Curtis Appleton II said. “They were kind of monitoring it. I didn’t know until the last possession when we got that four and out. It’s crazy. Everything worked for us. It was right there. Just knowing that trophy is there and that everything we’ve worked on is paying off, it’s only going to make us more dangerous and give us more confidence.”
Appleton and the Mules (9-1, 9-1 MIAA) defense shutout Fort Hays (7-3, 6-3 MIAA) in the last 30 minutes, helping UCM pull ahead from a 28-24 halftime deficit.
Redshirt junior defensive back Noah Blair intercepted Hays sophomore quarterback Jack Dawson on the first drive of the second half.
The Mules offense proceeded to post a five-play, 43-yard drive that ended with a 8-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Zach Zebrowski to sophomore wide receiver Price Morgan.
The score was one of two to be recorded in the third quarter, joined by redshirt senior defensive lineman David Olajiga and redshirt junior linebacker Cale Miller sacking Dawson in the endzone for a safety to put the Mules up 33-28 with 48 seconds left in the frame.
“How about that,” Central Missouri head coach Josh Lamberson said. “Our defense played a phenomenal second half. I really think they did a good job. They really got in and got a beat on what they were doing in the first half and made a few adjustments. They played faster. They played more confidently. Those guys got together at halftime and just kind of settled down. They were able to do the things they’ve done all season long.”
Central Missouri limited Hays to 125 yards in the second half. The Tigers had eight first downs during the stretch compared to UCM’s 12.
Saturday marked the third time the Mules defense has shut out an opponent in the final two quarters this season. It previously reached the feat against Emporia State on Oct. 21 and Central Oklahoma on Sept. 9.
“Going into halftime, we had our own little discussion about what we needed to do coming out of halftime,” Appleton said. “Noah’s interception built great momentum and put confidence back in us after a shaky first half. It built a lot of confidence. That safety, again, more points for us. A five-point swing. When we’re doing everything right, we’re really dominant defense wise. We’re all clicking.”
Fort Hays scored on three of its four possessions' while being limited to just one touchdown on its last 10.
Central Missouri trailed 21-14 at the end of the first quarter, which began with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Zebrowski to redshirt senior wide receiver Arkell Smith on the opening drive.
UCM gained just two yards on its next two possessions, leading to a turnover on downs and punt.
Its fourth try with the ball began with a 63-yard pass from Zebrowski to redshirt junior wide receiver Derrick Rose and concluded with a two-yard touchdown run from Zebrowski.
“You kind of figure out early in the game on how teams are going to defend you,” Lamberson said. “It’s going to be a little bit different because we’re so unique for what we do on offense. They were trying to get some wide rushes and trying to get Zach to step up in the pocket. That is what they were trying to do. Other teams have tried to do it before this year. I thought Zach did a really good job of navigating his way through the pocket and being able to, especially in the second half, check those underneath routes down.”
Zebrowski also had a 20-yard touchdown pass to Smith in the first half, answering a 29-yard touchdown from Dawson to senior wide receiver Trevor Watts.
Hays proceeded to go up 28-21 through a 1-yard run from junior running back Travis Dixon before a 22-yard field goal from Mules sophomore kicker Luke Dobson capped the first half.
“I’m so incredibly proud of our football team – our coaches, our players – for the way they came out and responded to some adversity today,” Lamberson said. “I think they really showed who they really were, through some good stuff and some bad stuff that went. When they absolutely had to make plays, they made those plays in winning moments. They did it with each other. They did it with love in their heart. It’s a special, special group of people that I’m really blessed to be a part of.”
After the touchdown and safety in the third quarter, Zebrowski had a 15-yard touchdown to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jack Pospisil and a 42-yard touchdown to Rose in the fourth quarter.
Rowe was one of two receivers to cross into triple digit yardage, posting 118 yards on four receptions. Smith had 149 yards on 10 receptions.
Zebrowski completed 36-of-52 passes for 459 yards and five touchdowns.
“We knew eventually their D-Line would wear down,” Smith said. “It was just kind of taking our shot and doing what we were doing, controlling what we could control. We knew plays were just going to come.”
The win over Hays completed UCM’s MIAA schedule for the 2023 season.
The Mules, which travel to Jefferson City to face winless Lincoln in their regular season finale on Nov. 11, only lost to Pittsburg State in conference play.
Pending the outcome of next week’s meeting between Pitt and Central Oklahoma, UCM will either share the conference title with the Gorillas or have an outright championship.
“It’s a nice thing that we can put in a trophy case,” Lamberson said. “I’m proud of the work that the kids have put in. But, I do go back to we are not a result oriented football team. We do focus on getting better every single day with ourselves, with our skill. We demand the give out of our kids and promise nothing in return for that. The get is just one of those things that happens along the way if you’re pure of heart and you're actually giving in the right way. Our kids have continuously done that.”
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
