The UCM Mules did what they had to do last Saturday. The Mules (5-1, 3-1 in the MIAA) defeated Truman State 38-3. Truman got on the board first with a first quarter field goal, which would be the only score the Bulldogs would muster on the day. UCM took control of the game on the very next series when junior running back Ken Hedrington rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown to put the Mules ahead to stay. UCM score 38 unanswered points to pick up the victory.

I thought a couple players had standout performances on the day. Junior running back Anthony Stewart racked up 235 all-purpose yards, including a school record 146 receiving yards for a running back. He also led the Mule ground game with 89 yards on the day.

All of us have heard Coach Fritz talk about how guys need to step up when they get the opportunity to play. I can't think of a better illustration of this point than freshman linebacker Devin King. King was expected to redshirt this season, but he was pressed into duty because of injuries in the linebacker corps. He proved he was more than up the challenge.

King led the UCM defense with 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. I thought he played extremely well, especially for a guy playing in his first collegiate football game.
Junior quarterback Eric Czerniewski put together another solid game. He threw for 239 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

This was a solid bounce back game for the Mules, however a big challenge looms ahead when Fort Hays State comes to town. This game will have major regional implications. The Tigers come in ranked eighth in the first regional poll, while the Mules are ranked 10th. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Walton Stadium.

Scouting Fort Hays State
The Tigers are led by Head Coach KevinVerdugo. Fort Hays will feature a Multiple offense and a 4-3 defense. The Tigers (4-2, 2-2 in the MIAA) return six starters on offense, six starters on defense and three specialists.

The Fort Hays State offense is led by senior quarterback Mike Garrison. Garrison has thrown for 1428 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions on the year. He is also the team's second-leading rusher with 139 yards and two touchdowns. Garrison has many choices when he drops back to throw.

The Tigers have six players with 10 or more receptions on the season. Junior running back James Walker is a key cog in the offense. He leads the team in receptions and rushing yards with 27 and 542 yards respectively. Senior defensive back Gordon Butler anchors the Tiger defense. He leads the team in tackles with 52, 1.5 for loss and three pass breakups. Junior defensive lineman Jacob Crossman leads the team in sacks with four.

The part of the Fort Hays State football team that concerns me the most is their special teams. Senior kick returner C.J. Lovett averages 32 yards per kickoff return. He has also retuned one kick for a touchdown on the season. Those numbers are impressive, but he does real damage in the punt return game. Lovett has seven punt returns on the season, four of which he is returned for a touchdown. He averages a mind-boggling 44.1 yards per return.

My solution to the problem would be just try not to kick to him. If you have to, make sure you have plenty of air under it so there three or four guys down there waiting for him to catch it and make the tackle. The Tigers will bring a much improved football team to Warrensburg on Saturday. The Mules will have to continue to improve and play better than they did last Saturday against Truman.

Keys to the Game
I think there are four keys to the Mules winning this football game. The first two are the same as they always are, control line of scrimmage and win the turnover margin. These two keys aren't groundbreaking but they are still extremely important.

Third, UCM must be solid in the kicking game. The Mules have to do a good job of kick off coverage. Lovett is one of the best kick retuners in this conference. He cannot be allowed to win the game on special teams for the Tigers.

Finally, I think the fans can be a major factor in his football game. I would ask the UCM faithful to come early, stay late, bring a friend and make a lot of noise. Let's make it difficult for the Fort Hays State offense to communicate. We need to give the Mules a great Homecoming environment. So, come out and cheer the Mules to a Homecoming victory!