Muleskinner

Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Stephanie Flippin/Photo Editor rolling up the stats -- Receiver Mike Spiegel attempts to gain yards after catch during a 52-0 win over Dakota State Sept. 9. The Mules' offense has struggled since. The team will look to rebound Saturday at Fort Hays State.

Media Credit: Stephanie Flippin/Photo Editor end in sight-- Receiver Seth Mason scores a touchdown against Dakota State Sept. 9. Tight end Ted Maxwell's block springs Mason for the score.

After the first two weeks of MIAA conference play, the UCM Mules football team is in a major hole.

The Mules were stunned last week when the Truman State Bulldogs beat them in a 24-21 score at Stokes Stadium.
The loss brought the Mules record to 2-2 overall and a 0-2 record in the MIAA.

"Last week was a disappointing lost for us," said head coach Willie Fritz. "It was a total team loss as we made mistakes on all sides of the ball."

Missed opportunities would haunt the Mules all afternoon as the Bulldogs would capitalize on the mistakes the Mules made.
Truman State scored on their first possession with a drive that went the entire length of the field for a touchdown with a pass from quarterback Matt Ticich to receiver Venness Emokpae.

The Mules' lone score in the first half would be a 32-yard field goal by Spencer Webb.

"We just have to play more physically and make the plays in the red zone because our offense has the players to make the big plays," said tight end Ted Maxwell.

On UCM's next possession, the Mules would get the ball on Truman State's 21-yard line but could not move the chains.

The Mules next possession, a nine play, 76-yard drive, ended with quarterback Toby Korrodi's fumble on the five yard line, leading to a turnover .

"Our goal this Saturday is to finish drives and score points because we have the offense to put up big numbers," Korrodi said.

Central Missouri headed into the half down 7-3.

The Mules' defense played solid for most of the game, but a roughing the passer penalty on the Mules would prove costly.
On the following play, Truman State running back Jake Cunningham broke the game open with a 67-yard run into the end zone.

"On defense, everybody has to do their assignment on the play so that we can set the tempo on defense early in the game," said defensive end Andrew Jilles.

The Mules would respond to the Bulldogs' score with two touchdown drives of their own.

The Mules scored on a 16-yard run by tailback Will Caldwell, adding the two-point conversion to pull within three.

The Mules were able to pull ahead 21-17 following a 10-yard touchdown pass from Korrodi to Maxwell.

Truman's winning drive would start on the Mules' 30-yard line, after the Bulldogs partially blocked a Mules' punt to the 30.
With just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored on a run by Cunningham to go ahead 24-21.

The Mules' next game will be against Fort Hays State at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The game will be the FHSU Tigers' homecoming game, and both teams are searching for their first conference win.

"Every game is a big game now," Korrodi said. "We just need to step up and win games because we cannot afford to lose."

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