WC Missouri News

The University of Central Missouri Mules Football team will host its home opener against the No. 13-ranked Colorado State Pueblo Thunderwolves on Thursday, September 11, at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

This matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs. Central Missouri enters the contest with a record of 0-1 after a 31-23 loss to Delta State in its season opener on August 28. Colorado State Pueblo comes into the game with a 1-1 record, following a close defeat to Fort Hays State.

Thursday’s event will feature several promotions, including “Get the Red Out,” First Responders’ Night, and postgame fireworks. Fans are encouraged to wear red.

Central Missouri finished last season with a 9-3 overall record and tied for third place in the MIAA with a conference mark of 6-3. The team advanced to postseason play for the second consecutive year and secured a double-overtime win against Texas Permian Basin in the Heritage Bowl Powered by RIOT.

With their records from 2024 and 2023 combined, Central Missouri achieved at least 20 wins over two seasons for just the second time in program history.

Returning players this season include All-MIAA selections Jack Pospisil (wide receiver), Hogan Wasson (wide receiver), LaAngelo Bell (running back), Austin Bressler (linebacker), along with Talon Sanders (defensive back), Michael Harris (defensive lineman), Isaac Montgomery (linebacker), Drew Kaufman (linebacker), Garrett Hormann (linebacker), Ethan Brown (punter) and JT Miller (kicker).

In preparation for its 129th football season, Central Missouri has added seven new coaches and welcomed 58 new student-athletes—36 freshmen and 22 transfers—to its roster. New coaching staff members include Rich Wright as defensive coordinator/defensive line coach; Neil Novak as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach; Vince Mayle as wide receivers coach; Jamal Morrow as running backs/offensive player personnel; Dylan Graham as tight ends/offensive player personnel; JaQuan Jenkins as assistant defensive secondary coach; and Billy Musgrave as assistant defensive line coach.

Central Missouri has played football every year since 1895 except for one season during World War I. In total, UCM has won or shared fourteen MIAA championships and made thirteen postseason appearances—including five trips to the NCAA-II Playoffs—with their most recent playoff appearance occurring in 2023.

The team also maintains an active scoring streak spanning 351 consecutive games dating back to week three of the 1991 season—a record within their conference.

Home games have been played at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field since it opened ninety-three years ago. Under head coach Josh Lamberson, UCM holds a home record of fourteen wins and three losses.

Broadcast coverage for Thursday’s game includes local radio stations "Your Country" 98.5 The BAR FM, "Good Time Oldies"1450 KOKO AM/92.1 FM, streaming online via warrensburgradio.com, pay-per-view webcast through TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES, apps on major smart TV platforms, and television broadcast throughout Kansas City on channel “38 The Spot.”

Former standout players from Central Missouri continue professional careers: Zach Davidson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in 2021—the twelfth Mule drafted in program history—and eighty-one former players have signed professional contracts or been drafted overall.

Following Thursday's home opener against Colorado State Pueblo, Central Missouri will begin conference play on September 20 with an away game at Missouri Western’s Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.