 |
|
|
|
|
| 10/22/2008 1:32:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
|
| HOMECOMING DAY: Karl Parker and the UCM Mules return home this Saturday for Homecoming festivities at Walton Field |
|
Mules prepare for Homecoming, Bearcats travel to Washburn
Kansas City - A pair of winning streaks will be on the line when the third-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (7-1, 6-0 MIAA) travel to Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl to face the Washburn Ichabods (6-2, 4-2 MIAA).
The Bearcats have won seven in a row since their season-opening setback against now-No. 2 Abilene Christian (Texas), while the Ichabods have bounced back from an 0-2 start to MIAA play with a four-game winning streak.
A big part of Washburn's resurgence has been its running game. The Ichabods are averaging 166.5 yards rushing during the winning streak, with freshman RB Justin Cooper posting 100-yard efforts in each of his last three outings.
The WU defense has held opponents to just 10 points a game in the winning streak, and a league-low 16.2 ppg for the season. The Ichabods also own the MIAA's top pass defense (106.3 rating).
Meanwhile, the Bearcats lead the MIAA in scoring offense (41.8 ppg), total offense (455.6 ypg) and rushing defense (96.9 yapg).
Washburn, 10th in the Super Region 4 ranking this week, needs a win over the No. 2 team in the super region to keep its hopes of a playoff berth alive.
After back-to-back home games the No. 13 Pittsburg State Gorillas (7-1, 5-1 MIAA) hit the road to face Fort Hays State (2-6, 1-5 MIAA) at Lewis Field Stadium.
The Gorillas, No. 3 in Super Region 4 this week, need to win the final three games for their best regular season record since the 2004 national runner-up campaign.
PSU's No. 2 rushing offense in the MIAA (210.2 ypg) will face the conference's second-ranked run defense - the Tigers have allowed just 108.5 yards per game.
It's Homecoming time for No. 18 Central Missouri (6-2, 4-2 MIAA), and the Mules will host Nebraska-Omaha (4-3, 3-3 MIAA) at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
The Mules, ranked No. 5 in the super region this week, have the MIAA's top passing offense, averaging 271.5 yards per game and scoring 23 of their 33 offensive TDs through the air.
Junior QB Eric Czerniewski shares the wealth - four players have at least 20 receptions and three of them have five TDs apiece.
UCM is also seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since starting the season 4-0.
The Mavericks are playing their fourth and final Homecoming game this month, and will be looking to even their record to 2-2 in those games and to get their first October road win.
A source of contention for UNO has been turnovers - the Mavs have a turnover margin of minus-11 in conference games this season.
After three in a row on the road, Emporia State (3-5, 1-5 MIAA) returns to Welch Stadium/Jones Field for a Homecoming battle with Truman (3-4, 2-4 MIAA).
The Hornets will be out to snap a four-game losing streak when the Bulldogs come to town - three of ESU's losses have been by eight points or less.
Truman will be looking to avoid its first three-game skid since the start of the 2006 season. The Bulldogs' running game has seen improvement over the past two weeks - they've rushed for 307 yards in that stretch after having 317 over the first five games.
Missouri Southern (4-4, 2-4 MIAA) will host the Missouri Western Griffons (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) to round out the week's MIAA schedule.
Fritz Looking To Match Knox On Coaching Wins List:
Central Missouri head coach Willie Fritz enters the Mules' game with Nebraska-Omaha needing one win to move into a tie for seventh on the MIAA's career coaching victories list.
He has 88 wins in his 12th season with UCM, one behind former Southeast Missouri State head coach Kenneth Knox (1952-67 - 89).
Should the Mules win two more times in 2008, Fritz can become the seventh MIAA coach to get 90 wins and tie Northwest Missouri State's Ryland Milner (1937-57 - 90) for sixth place on the list.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
|
|
|
