Oct. 3, 2009 – The Truman Football team got on the scoreboard first, but the Central Missouri Mules answered quickly and then ran away from the Bulldogs for a 38-3 victory on Saturday in Warrensburg.
The #20 Mules are now 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the MIAA and will play Fort Hays State while the Bulldogs are 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the conference and will host #12 Missouri Western next Saturday.
On the Bulldogs second drive of the game, Vanness Emokpae caught a tipped pass and ran 51 yards to push the ball inside the Mule 10-yard line. However on a key third down play, Taylor Breen’s pass was picked off by Brett Ginn as he was hit as the ball was released.
Truman’s defense got the pigskin back as Terrence Byrd made the interception at the Mules 30 and ran it back 22 yards to the eight. The Bulldog’s drive stalled out again inside the 10 but Mickey Masucci was able to connect from 27-yards out to put Truman on top 3-0.
The Mules wasted little time to take the lead. Anthony Stewart took the ball on the first play and ran 56 yards down to the Bulldog 24. Ken Hedrington then scored on a 15-yard run to cap off just a three play, 80-yard drive.
Truman’s next drive appeared to end quickly but a roughing the kicker call gave the Bulldogs an automatic first down and moved the ball out to their own 33. On second and 10, Breen’s pass to Anton Bernard fell incomplete and in the process, Jeremy Wallace of the Mules knocked Breen out of the game with a hard hit.
Bernard then fumbled the exchange on the next play and UCM took over on the Bulldog 24-yard line.
Truman’s defense held as Aaron Jamieson connected on a field goal at the 10:44 mark of the second quarter to put Central in front 10-3.
With Caleb Roberts at the helm, the Bulldogs started to march down the field as the redshirt freshman hit Steve D’Antonio for an 18-yard completion. Devin King was able to punch the ball away from D’Antonio and Deonte Ball recovered at the Mule 28.
On the Mules ensuing possession, Stewart again struck on a screen pass as he went 49-yards down to the Bulldog eight. Eric Czerniewski found DeMarco Cosby in the endzone for a seven-yard TD pass and a 17-3 lead.
Stewart scored late in the half on a 35-yard pass play from Czerniewski to give Central a halftime lead of 24-7.
Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter but Central added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to wrap things up.
Roberts finished 9-of-12 with one interception for 110 yards in three quarters of work, he also gained 32 yards rushing on eight attempts. Bernard had a season-high 21 carries for 61 yards.
Stewart had 89 yards rushing on 11 attempts and another 146 yards receiving on six catches. Czerniewski finished 16-of-29 for 239 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bulldogs will face another ranked opponent for Homecoming next week at Stokes Stadium. Missouri Western will be looking for revenge after falling 29-35 to Northwest Missouri on Saturday in
Game Notes: Taylor Breen was 4-of-9 for 62 yards before leaving the game early in the second quarter…Vanness Emokpae caught three passes for 82 yards, including a season-long 51 yards…Mickey Masucci made his 34th career field goal and has 206 career points…Demetrius Lavant and Ja’Cobe Britt led the Bulldog defense with nine tackles apiece…Terrence Byrd made his fourth career interception and Dennis Walls made his second pick this year…Truman was just 4-of-15 on third down conversions…The Bulldogs led in possession time with 31:50…announced attendance was 3,755…this was the 93rd meeting between Central and Truman, the fifth longest in Division II, the Bulldogs lead the series 52-36-5.