Everyone knew that Missouri Western would be a good football team and a challenge for the Mules last Saturday. Western proved just how good they were with a dominating 36-21 victory over Central Missouri.

Western controlled the game from beginning to end. Every time it looked like UCM might mount a comeback, Missouri Western had an answer. Western quarterback Drew Newhart had a great game. He put the ball where he needed to make plays. The Western offense put up a staggering 469 yards of total offense.

I knew Western would move the ball in the air, but I thought the UCM defense would be able to slow down the running game. The Griffons ran the ball for a total of 223 yards. The Western running game allowed them to be balanced and incredibly hard to defend. I won't go through any more stats because it doesn't do anyone any good.

The Mules travel to UNO next Saturday. This game is now a huge game for the Mules as they find themselves now fighting for their post-season lives. I expect the Mules to come out and play well.

Scouting University of Nebraska-Omaha
The Mavericks are led by Head Coach Pat Behrns. He is in his 22nd year at UNO. The Mavericks return three starters on offense, five on defense and two specialists. They will feature a Multiple Offense and a 4-2 Defense.

The Maverick (5-3, 4-2 in the MIAA) offense is led by senior quarterback Greg Wunderlich. Wunderlich has thrown for 1,804 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has been battling a toe injury, but he is expected to play Saturday.

UNO has five receivers with 12 or more catches on the season. Freshman Brian Miller leads the charge with 31 receptions, 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The UNO rushing attack is led by freshman Levi Terrell. He has run for 681 yards and five touchdowns.

The UNO defense is led by junior linebacker Bobby Stroup. He has a team leading 52 tackles on the season, five for loss and a sack. Senior linebacker Ben Vanderslice and junior defensive tackle Nate Wissink are tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5. Junior safety Jason Zabka leads the team in interceptions with two.

This is a different Maverick team than we saw last year. They seem to be a relying more on the passing game this year. This is a game that the Mules need to win to have any postseason chance.

Keys to the Game
I think that there are four keys to winning this football game for the Mules. The first two are the same as always, win the turnover battle and control the line of scrimmage. I know it sounds simple and it's not very flashy, but football games still come down to doing those two things.

Third, the Mules must slow down the Maverick passing game. That means the secondary has to stay over the top and the defensive line has to do a good job of getting pressure on the quarterback.

Lastly, Central must continue to do a good job of finishing in the fourth quarter. This is especially important on the road in a big game like this.