MULES IN BLUE TIGERS SIGHTS
The Lincoln University football team tries to rebound from a 36-0 season opening loss at the hands of Lane College (Jackson, Tenn.) when Central Missouri State University (Warrensburg, Mo.) visits Dwight T. Reed Stadium at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 2. (Saturday).
While the youthful Blue Tigers were handled by the Dragons last week, there were a few areas that performed well for Lincoln University. The quarterback duo of Donald Brown (5-9-0-15) and Rashad Aubrey (6-10-0-51) completed 58 percent (11-19) of their passes. The 58 percent figure is 11 points higher than the Blue Tigers 46.9 percent overall completion rate of 2005. DeWitt Johnson, Kevin Brown, and DeVaughn Reece returned a total of six kickoffs for 126 yards, an average of 21 yards-per-return, better than the 17.7 ypr of a season ago. Dana Chambers, Julio Etienne and Derrick Manning of Lincoln University each recorded an interception of Lane College quarterback Sherard Ellis.
The Mules, who will be playing their season opener, are on the verge of entering a couple of NCAA Division II football polls. Central Missouri State is receiving 30 votes (No. 30) in the American Football Coaches’ Association poll and was preseason No. 32 in Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. In 109 seasons of football, the Mules are 52-48-9 in season openers, including being 12-1 since 1993. Under head coach Willie Fritz, who is entering his 10th season as head coach of the Mules, his program has an 8-1 opening game record, including a 4-1 road mark. The lone loss in season starters was the first game for Fritz as head coach of the Mules, a 41-12 defeat at the hands of the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in 1997.
In the game against the Blue Tigers last fall, the Mules rolled up 542 yards of total offense on their way to an 83-0 win. The Mules return student-athletes who produced 53 of the 83 points in the lopsided victory; Mike Spiegel (18 points), Jeremy Braden (12), Spencer Webb (11), Will Caldwell (6) and Adrian Singletary (6). Spiegel, who has moved from quarterback to wide receiver this season, ran the ball four times for 111 yards and recorded three touchdown runs in the meeting last season. Webb notched Central Missouri State University records for Point-After-Touchdown makes (11) and attempts (12) in the win over Lincoln University. The 83 points scored was the most the Mules had put on a scoreboard since a 76-0 win in 1914 over then Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State).
Making the most of a transfer from Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.), quarterback Toby Korrodi became the Mules starter heading into game four of the 2005 season. The senior from San Antonio, Texas generated Central Missouri State and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association records for completion percentage (179-of-240, 74.6 percent) and pass efficiency (176.9, No. 3 NCAA DII). Adding 204.1 yards of total offense per game (No. 55 NCAA DII) benefited Korrodi as he was selected All-MIAA honorable mention on offense and tabbed a 2006 Pre-Season All-America by d2football.com. He is currently being projected as a seventh round pick (nfldraftscout.com) in the April 2007 National Football League draft.
Allowing the Mules to elevate their offensive production are Caldwell (RB, 2005 All-MIAA honorable mention) and Jon Books (OL, 2005 All-MIAA honorable mention). Caldwell rushed
for 97.1 yards per game (No. 53 NCAA DII), 112.6 all-purpose yards (No. 85 NCAA DII) and scored nine (9) points-per-game (No. 27 NCAA DII) in 2005. He set two school records 276 rushing yards and five (5) touchdowns (all rushing) in an 83-21 blowout of then No. 11 Pittsburg State in the final game of the 2005 regular season. Books, a right tackle started every game for the Mules in 2005.
As a whole, the Mules return 100 percent of their passing attack and 70 percent (1322-of-1897 yards) of their rushing game from 2005. The Mules scored 10 touchdowns in three games in 2005 and hit 83 points twice and 69 points once.
The most potent portion of the Mules may be the offense, but their heart is defense. A cast of eight starters return for the Central Missouri State defense, highlighted by 2005 d2football.com All-America honorable mention team member Kendall Ricketts. Also named to the All-Southwest Region second team and All-MIAA first team, Ricketts was No. 38 in NCAA DII with 9.6 total tackles per game in 2005. Ricketts, the lone sophomore on the All-MIAA first team defense was sixth in NCAA DII in 2005 with six solo tackles per game. Ricketts, a free safety, became the Mules all-time leader in interception returns for touchdown with a pick for a score in only Central Missouri State’s sixth win in 43 games with Pittsburg State. Andrew Jilles (DE) anchors the defensive line for the Mules. Jilles was No. 24 in NCAA DII in forced fumbles (0.33 per game) in 2005, while teammate Sam Gibson (DE) led the Mules with three fumble recoveries. Bruce Williams (CB) is a member of the Mules track team, where he was a 2006 national qualifier in the 100 and 200 meter dash events and ran the anchor leg of the Mules 4x400 meter relay team, which placed sixth at the 2006 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. John Samia (SS) started the final five games of 2005 and was MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording 10 tackles and three sacks in action against Missouri Southern.
The 2005 Mules defense held opponents to an MIAA best 3.0 yards-per-carry and allowed only eight (8) rushing touchdowns all season. Central Missouri State stood atop the MIAA in total defense (298.7 yards, No. 23 NCAA DII) and limited opponents to only a 28 percent conversion rate on third down.
Matt Frankel, an All-MIAA second team punter in 2005, was No. 38 in NCAA DII with an average of 38.3 yards-per-punt.
A season ago, the special teams of Central Missouri State led the MIAA in kickoff coverage, punt return average and were second in punt average.
Lincoln University rushed for minus 44 yards and had 144 passing yards with 72 yards coming on the final drive of the 2005 game at Central Missouri State. In the five previous meetings the Blue Tigers have had with the Mules since the return of football in 2000, the Blue Tigers have not scored a first quarter touchdown. The average final score in the five game set is 50-6 (20-0 after the first quarter, 37-2 at halftime). The Mules have out-gained the Blue Tigers in total offense nearly three-to-one, 408.6 yards-per-game to 147.2 ypg in the five contests.
After hosting Central Missouri State at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 2 in Dwight T. Reed Stadium, Lincoln University travels to West Virginia State (Institute, W.Va.) for their first road game of the season on Sept. 9 with a 1:00 p.m. EDT kickoff.
Central Missouri State in the 2005 NCAA Division II Final Statistics; out of 145 teams
Total Offense No. 24, 419.5 yards-per-game
Total Defense No. 23, 298.7 ypg
Rushing Offense No. 32, 189.7 ypg
Rushing Defense No. 19, 104.4 ypg
Passing Offense No. 48, 229.8 ypg
Pass Efficiency Defense No. 93, 122.6 ypg
Scoring Offense No. 9, 40 points-per-game
Scoring Defense No. 14, 17.5 ppg
Turnover Margin No. 17, +1.0
Team Kickoff Returns No. 47, 20.38 ypg
Team Punt Returns No. 8, 14.92 ypg
Team Net Punting No. 38, 32.81 ypg
GAME TWO RECAP - CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE DEFEATS LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 78-0
The Blue Tigers (0-2) gave a valiant defensive effort to begin the game, but a wave of offense by the Mules (1-0) in a span of 6:13 from late in the first quarter until midway through the second quarter produced 28 points. Central Missouri State held a 42-0 halftime edge on their way to the 78-0 win. The Mules had 496 total yards (279 rushing, 217 passing) of offense, while the Blue Tigers had 74. For the second game in a row the Blue Tigers did not run the ball well (-23 yards). Lincoln University did win the time of possession battle 32:31 to 27:29. The longest scoring drive for the Mules was an eight play drive covering 40 yards in 2:57. Only once did the Blue Tigers cross into Mules territory. Alfred Minor lofted a pass to Kevin Brown for a 42-yard reception to the CMSU 45-yardline late in the fourth quarter. The Blue Tigers moved the ball to the CMSU 28, but did not manage to score any points as the clock dissipated. Lincoln University began 15 of their 19 drives inside their own 30-yardline, while Central Missouri State started two of their 17 drives inside their own 30-yardline. The Mules scored on 12 of their 17 drives. The Blue Tigers travel to Institute, West Virginia to take on the Yellowjackets of West Virginia State University on Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
