WT victimized by explosive start this time - Dave Henry, Amarillo Globe News
If the West Texas A&M Buffs are looking for a reason their football season ended in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday afternoon, they need only look in the mirror.
The Central Missouri Mules stole a page from the WT playbook, jumping out to a fast start and blowing out their opponent in the first half on their way to a 55-35 win.
Fast starts and manageable second-half performances, at least in the fourth quarter, had been WT's trademark this season, but the Mules, who run a similar but more intricate spread offense than do the Buffs, took that style to a different level.
How fast were the Mules?
• UCM had a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before WT had a first down.
• UCM had a 21-0 lead in the first quarter while the Buffs had managed one first down.
• UCM scored on five of its first six possessions and had a 35-7 lead at halftime.
• UCM had 224 yards of offense in the first quarter.
• UCM's 21 first-quarter points were the most points the Mules have scored in the first quarter this season and marked the first time this season the Buffs trailed in the first quarter.
UCM's early explosion seemed to surprise even the Mules.
"I think that's the first time we've ever led (in the first quarter)," UCM quarterback Eric Czerniewski said with a laugh before the postgame news conference.
The comment drew chuckles from UCM running back Anthony Stewart, who had 77 of the Mules' 79 yards on their first possession, and cornerback Paul Stephens, who had two interceptions.
Before Saturday's game, the Mules had been outscored in the first quarter 83-56.
"That was huge coming out like that and taking the momentum from the get-go," said Stewart, who had 112 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns along with 10 catches for 131 yards and a score. "It was definitely a blessing."
Mules off to races - Dave Henry, Amarillo Globe News
Officially, the mascot for the University of Central Missouri is the Mule.
However, on Saturday afternoon, the mascot might as well have been a thoroughbred.
The Mules came charging out of the gate at Audrey J. Walton Stadium, scoring on four of their first five possessions, cruising past West Texas A&M, 55-35, before 4,397 fans in an NCAA Division II first round playoff game.
The Mules had a 21-0 lead with 2:32 left in the first quarter, and while the final score was more indicative of a high scoring offensive shootout - not to mention the final team stats - the game was not that close.
"We weren't expecting anything like that at all," said WT cornerback Tae Evans, who had a team-high 12 tackles in his final game as a Buff. "They came out fast and physical and out-schemed us. What can you say?"
"Early on it was a little difficult to get going. They had the ball for a long time and getting into a rhythm was tough," said WT quarterback Taylor Harris, who went 35-of-66 for 495 yards and four scores with three picks and finishes his career as WT's all-time leader in passing yards and total offense. "Don't take anything away from the UCM defense. They played pretty well."
Central Missouri routs WT for second-round playoff date with ACU - Abilene Reporter News
Eric Czerniewski threw for 368 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 8 Central Missouri past No. 14 West Texas A&M 55-35 Saturday in the first round of the Division II football playoffs.
The Mules (10-2) scored the game’s first four touchdowns and led 42-7 early in the third quarter en route to a second-round meeting with No. 2 Abilene Christian (11-0) at noon Saturday at Shotwell Stadium.
West Texas A&M (8-4), the third-place team from the Lone Star Conference, outscored the Mules 28-20 in the second half but couldn’t overcome the 35-7 halftime deficit.
The other Super Regional Four semifinal game will pit No. 3 Northwest Missouri State (10-1) against No. 4 Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kingsville. The defending national champion Bearcats beat MIAA rival Missouri Western, 28-24.
Kelvin Austin’s nine-yard touchdown run with 8:10 left in the game capped a 28-7 run and lifted the Bearcats over the Griffons. Missouri Western (8-4) led 17-0 at the half, but the Bearcats roared back for their biggest comeback win in 41 playoff games in school history.
The Bearcats’ lone loss this season was to Kingsville (16-7) in the season opener at Maryville. The Javelinas’ lone loss this season is to ACU, the No. 1 team in the region. Kingsville is No. 2 team in the region.
NW Missouri St. wins, will play at A&M-Kingsville next - George Vondracek, Corpus Christi Caller Times
The rematch is set.
Texas A&M-Kingsville will face defending NCAA Division II champion Northwest Missouri State in the second round of the playoffs, this time at Javelina Stadium next Saturday.
The 10-1 Bearcats rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat fellow Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association member Missouri Western 28-24 in a first-round Super Regional Four ballgame in Maryville. Northwest advances to face the second-seeded Javelinas, who defeated the Bearcats 16-7 in the season opener on Sept. 2 in Maryville. The game time will be announced today.
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ACU's Sang, Belledant win region cross country titles - Abilene Reporter News
Abilene Christian’s Amos Sang and Anais Belledant each won individual titles at the NCAA Division II South Central Region cross country meet Saturday, while the ACU men finished second overall to also earn a trip to the national championships.
Sang, the defending region champion and a senior from Eldoret, Kenya, won the men’s 10-kilometer race in 30 minutes, 42.96 seconds — 30 seconds faster than Central Missouri’s Laban Sialo. ACU’s Cleophas Tanui, a senior from Rift Valley, Kenya, was third (21:21.60), and teammate Romain Rybicki, a senior from Chateauneuf Rhone, France, was seventh (31:53.62). Jake Schofield, a junior from Wayne, Mich., was 43rd (33:55.08), and Will Mack, a freshman from Boerne, was 65th (34:31.15) to round out the Wildcats’ top five.
Central Missouri won the men’s team title with 105 points. ACU was second with 119, and Lone Star Conference rival East Central was third (127).
The top two men’s teams and top three women’s teams advance to the national championships in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 4. The top two runners not on one of those teams also advance to nationals or any runner in the top five.
Belledant, the Lone Star Conference champion and a senior from Lyon, France, covered the women’s 6K course in 22:14.43. Nebraska-Omaha’s Anja Puc was second (22:23.16). ACU’s Chloe Susset, a sophomore Clery Vexin, France, was 10th (22:50.34), and Alyse Goldsmith, a sophomore from Katy, was 15th (23:01.17) to help the ACU women finish ninth overall (245). Pittsburg State won the women’s title (66), followed by LSC championship Midwestern State (108) and defending regional champion Missouri Southern (130).
MSU second in regional, advances to nationals - Times Record News
Consider it another mission accomplished for No. 17 Midwestern State.
The strong-finishing Mustangs gained 20 points on Missouri Southern over the last three kilometers to finish runner-up at the 2010 NCAA Division II South Central Regional.
“One of our goals was to make national, and we’ve accomplished everything so far,” MSU coach Koby Styles said. “Now, we just need to represent Midwestern in Louisville.”
The Mustangs finished 42 points behind ninth-ranked Pittsburg State as the Gorillas amassed 66 points to MSU’s 108.
Still, Midwestern State will compete in its second national meet set for Dec. 4 at E.P. Sawyer State Park as part of the NCAA Divison II Fall Sports Festival in Louisville, Ky.
That race will begin at noon.
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Washburn ends ACU volleyball season in region semifinals - Abilene Reporter News
Abilene Christian’s posteason run ended Friday with a 3-1 loss to second-seeded Washburn at the South Central Region volleyball tournament.
ACU dropped the first two games 25-20 and 25-15 before extending the match with a 25-20 win. Washburn recovered to easily win Game 4, 25-15.
The Wildcats finished 27-6 and played one more match than Lone Star Conference rival and champion West Texas A&M, which lost in Thursday’s first round of matches.
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MSU advances to Div. II Final Four - Times Record News
Second-ranked Midwestern State’s only NCAA Div. II Final Four apperance had been earned at home.
In fact, two previous quarterfinal trips to California had ended in heartbreak for MSU coach Doug Elder’s squad.
But those trends would end Saturday at the University Soccer Stadium.
Junior striker David Freeland scored the first of his three goals just 40 seconds into the match as MSU quickly deflated any Chico State hopes with a convincing 5-0 whipping of the Wildcats in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals.
“If we score quickly in a game, we just seem to keep it going,” Freeland said. “We just build momentum and gain confidence. We’ve been looking forward to the Final Four all year.”
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