Win helps Mules playoff chances
A win at Nebraska-Omaha puts Mules second in MIAA
Dustan Sedwick: Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
This past Saturday, the No. 19-ranked Mules handed the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks their first loss of the season. In a game that could have ended the Mules' playoff hopes, Central Missouri won 49-31, giving the team their first conference road win since week three of the season and thier keeps their playoff hopes alive with two weeks left in the regular season.
In the win against the favored Mavericks, Central Missouri's running game stepped up and punched the ball into the end zone four times - the most rushing touchdowns in a game all season.
"It was a team effort," runningback Anthony Stewart said. "The [offensive linemen] are my best friends, and to be honest, all the credit goes to them."
The defensive performance, however, was questionable against the Mavericks. A defense that gave up a little more than 300 yards per game this season allowed the Mavericks to rack up more than 500 yards and four touchdowns.
Safety Randy Shepherd said the defense held their own when it mattered most.
"In between the 20 yard lines, we've been giving up chunks of yards here and there, but it all comes down to the red zone defense," he said. "If we can force turnovers and force field goals, we're going to have a chance."
Despite allowing a massive amount of yardage to the Mavericks offense, the defense was able to force an interception - which led to a 65-yard return by Shepherd - and forced two fumbles, all of which led to offensive scoring drives.
"Whenever [the defense] is able to force turnovers, it causes a big momentum change," Shepherd said. "As long as we can get the ball back to Eric (Czerniewski) and his guys on offense, that's always a good thing; we will have a good chance of winning then."
Czerniewski also had his share of problems in Saturday's win. He was intercepted three times by the Mavericks.
"He led the offense and did his job," Stewart said of Czerniewski. "Every turnover is big, though. He knows that he has a team behind him as long as we are there to help fight through adversity. When [an interception] happens, we have to be there to pick him up and get him back to making big plays."
This week, a Missouri Southern State team that has struggled for most of the year travels to Warrensburg to take on the Mules. In the 2008 season, the Lions were battered by UCM in a 47-14 Mules victory.
Although the Lions (3-4, 3-5 MIAA) haven't played to their potential this season, all of their wins have been against conference opponents, including a 35-34 victory against No. 23-ranked Missouri Western this past week, a team that UCM lost to earlier in the season.
Coach Willie Fritz said Missouri Southern will be a team with a lot of confidence coming off a quality win.
"They've got a lot of fine athletes and should be a good test for our football team," Fritz said.
In the win against the favored Mavericks, Central Missouri's running game stepped up and punched the ball into the end zone four times - the most rushing touchdowns in a game all season.
"It was a team effort," runningback Anthony Stewart said. "The [offensive linemen] are my best friends, and to be honest, all the credit goes to them."
The defensive performance, however, was questionable against the Mavericks. A defense that gave up a little more than 300 yards per game this season allowed the Mavericks to rack up more than 500 yards and four touchdowns.
Safety Randy Shepherd said the defense held their own when it mattered most.
"In between the 20 yard lines, we've been giving up chunks of yards here and there, but it all comes down to the red zone defense," he said. "If we can force turnovers and force field goals, we're going to have a chance."
Despite allowing a massive amount of yardage to the Mavericks offense, the defense was able to force an interception - which led to a 65-yard return by Shepherd - and forced two fumbles, all of which led to offensive scoring drives.
"Whenever [the defense] is able to force turnovers, it causes a big momentum change," Shepherd said. "As long as we can get the ball back to Eric (Czerniewski) and his guys on offense, that's always a good thing; we will have a good chance of winning then."
Czerniewski also had his share of problems in Saturday's win. He was intercepted three times by the Mavericks.
"He led the offense and did his job," Stewart said of Czerniewski. "Every turnover is big, though. He knows that he has a team behind him as long as we are there to help fight through adversity. When [an interception] happens, we have to be there to pick him up and get him back to making big plays."
This week, a Missouri Southern State team that has struggled for most of the year travels to Warrensburg to take on the Mules. In the 2008 season, the Lions were battered by UCM in a 47-14 Mules victory.
Although the Lions (3-4, 3-5 MIAA) haven't played to their potential this season, all of their wins have been against conference opponents, including a 35-34 victory against No. 23-ranked Missouri Western this past week, a team that UCM lost to earlier in the season.
Coach Willie Fritz said Missouri Southern will be a team with a lot of confidence coming off a quality win.
"They've got a lot of fine athletes and should be a good test for our football team," Fritz said.
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