WC Missouri News

University of Central Missouri’s football team will return to Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field on Saturday, September 27, for a matchup against the Missouri Southern Lions. The game is set for 1 p.m. as part of UCM Family Weekend and Cancer Awareness Day.

The Mules come into the contest with a 1-2 overall record and are 1-0 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), following a 34-26 victory over Missouri Western State University on September 20. In that game, quarterback Jordan Pachot threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another score. Wide receiver Hogan Wasson caught ten passes for 135 yards and one touchdown.

Through three games this season, Central Missouri leads the MIAA in passing offense with 1,091 yards and ranks second in total offense at 1,346 yards. Nationally, their passing yardage is third among NCAA Division II teams. Wasson currently leads NCAA-II in receptions per game with an average of 10.67.

Last season, Central Missouri finished with a record of 9-3 overall and tied for third place in the MIAA at 6-3. The team advanced to postseason play for a second consecutive year, defeating Texas Permian Basin in double overtime during the Heritage Bowl Powered by RIOT on December 7.

The program has achieved at least twenty wins over two consecutive seasons only twice in its history—posting records of 11-2 in 2023 and last year’s nine victories.

Central Missouri returns eleven starters from last season’s roster, including All-MIAA selections Jack Pospisil (wide receiver), Hogan Wasson (wide receiver), LaAngelo Bell (running back), Austin Bressler (linebacker), Talon Sanders (defensive back), Michael Harris (defensive lineman), Isaac Montgomery (linebacker), Drew Kaufman (linebacker), Garrett Hormann (linebacker), Ethan Brown (punter) and JT Miller (kicker).

This year marks the program’s 129th season; UCM has fielded a football team every year since its founding in 1895 except during World War I in 1918.

In preseason polls released by the conference office in July, Central Missouri was ranked fourth by both coaches and media.

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on "Your Country" 98.5 The BAR FM, "Good Time Oldies" 1450 KOKO AM/92.1 FM as well as online at warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler providing play-by-play commentary alongside former head coach Jim Svoboda and sideline reporter Joe Moore. Fans can also watch via pay-per-view webcast through TheMIAANetwork.com/UCMMULES or using The MIAA Network Apps available on major streaming platforms.

Key contributors so far this season include Donovyn Omolo at quarterback leading rushing efforts; Jordan Pachot leading passing; receivers Hogan Wasson and Jack Pospisil topping receiving statistics; Garrett Hormann leading tackles; Drew Kaufman pacing tackles-for-loss; Jalen Harris recording sacks; Trenton Bell recovering fumbles.

Jordan Pachot was named MIAA Co-Offensive Athlete of the Week after his performance against Missouri Western State University: “Pachot threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns in the Mules' 34-26 win at Missouri Western State University on Saturday, Sept. 20... He went 33-of-51 and completed touchdown passes of three, four, and sixty-six yards for his four hundred one yards through the air... In addition he also tallied a rushing touchdown giving him four TDs in the game.”

Other weekly honors this season include Jack Pospisil being named Offensive Athlete of the Week earlier this month.

The team welcomed fifty-eight new student-athletes to its roster ahead of this campaign—thirty-six freshmen from high school programs along with twenty-two transfers—and seven new coaches have joined: Rich Wright as defensive coordinator/defensive line coach; Neil Novak as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach; Vince Mayle coaching wide receivers; Jamal Morrow overseeing running backs/offensive player personnel; Dylan Graham working with tight ends/offensive player personnel; JaQuan Jenkins assisting defensive secondary; Billy Musgrave assisting defensive line.

Saturday's meeting marks the forty-sixth all-time between Central Missouri and Missouri Southern dating back to nineteen seventy-three—with UCM holding a twenty-seven-sixteen-two advantage historically. Last year's matchup ended with Central Missouri winning sixty-two to forty-seven.

Under head coach Josh Lamberson, now entering his fifth season at UCM according to official sources (https://ucmathletics.com/sports/football/coaches), Central Missouri has posted a home record of fourteen wins against four losses since he took charge (https://ucmathletics.com/sports/football/stats). This will be their ninety-third season playing home games at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field (https://ucmathletics.com/facilities/walton-stadium-kennedy-field).

Central Missouri holds an active scoring streak spanning three hundred fifty-three consecutive games—a record within their conference—which began during week three of nineteen ninety-one (https://themiaa.com/news/2024/9/15/miaa-football-weekly-report.aspx).

Over its history spanning one hundred twenty-nine seasons—with only one missed due to global conflict—the program has compiled six hundred five wins against five hundred forty losses plus fifty-one ties (https://www.ncaa.com/history/football/d2). The team has won or shared fourteen conference championships most recently securing one two years ago—in addition to thirteen postseason appearances including five trips to NCAA Division II playoffs—the latest coming last year (https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/football/d2/).

Several former players continue professional careers: Zach Zebrowski and Arkell Smith are currently playing for Edmonton Elks in Canada’s CFL while David Olajiga is part of New England Patriots’ practice squad roster—Zach Davidson was drafted by Minnesota Vikings marking twelfth time a Mule has been selected since Delanie Walker’s selection eighteen years ago.

Eighty-one former players have either been drafted or signed pro contracts throughout program history (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Central_Missouri_Mules_in_the_NFL_Draft).

Following Saturday's home contest versus Missouri Southern Lions—the Mules travel next week to face Central Oklahoma on October fourth.