2016 Central Missouri Mules football team

2016 Central Missouri Mules football
2016 Central Missouri Mules football
NCAA Division II First Round, L 31–48 at Harding
Conference	Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Ranking
Coaches	No. 20
Record	9–3 (9–2 MIAA)
Head coach	Jim Svoboda (7th season);
Offensive coordinator	John McMenamin (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Wes Bell (1st season)
Home stadium	Audrey J. Walton Stadium

2016 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 1 NW Missouri State $^	11	–	0	15	–	0
No. 10 Emporia State ^	10	–	1	11	–	2
No. 21 ^	9	–	2	9	–	3
Fort Hays State #	7	–	4	8	–	4
Pittsburg State	7	–	4	7	–	4
Washburn #	7	–	4	7	–	5
Missouri Western	4	–	7	4	–	7
Central Oklahoma	3	–	8	3	–	8
Lindenwood	3	–	8	3	–	8
Missouri Southern	2	–	9	2	–	9
Northeastern State	2	–	9	2	–	9
Nebraska–Kearney	1	–	10	1	–	10

$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Wahsburn: Mineral Water Bowl, Fort Hays State: C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl Rankings from AFCA poll)

The 2016 Central Missouri Mules football team represented the University of Central Missouri as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Jim Svoboda, the Mules compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 9–2 in conference play, placing third in the MIAA. Central Missouri advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, where the Mules lost in the first round to Harding. The team played home games at Vernon Kennedy Field at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg, Missouri.^[1] 2016 was the 120th season in program history.^[2]

Preseason

The Mules entered the 2016 season after finishing with an 8–3 record, overall and in conference play, last season under Svoboda.^[3] On August 2, 2016 at the MIAA Football Media Day, the Mules were chosen to finish in second place in both the Coaches Poll and Media Poll.^[4]

On August 15, the American Football Coaches Association released the Preseason Division II Poll,^[5] landing Central Missouri at No. 20.^[6]

On August 22, D2football.com released its Top 25 poll, ranking Central Missouri 10th.^[7]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 p.m.	at Pittsburg State	No. 20	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS	W 34–27	9,311
September 8	7:00 p.m.	Fort Hays State	No. 16	Audrey J. Walton Stadium Warrensburg, MO	W 34–17	7,279
September 17	6:00 p.m.	at Missouri Western	No. 14	Spratt Stadium St. Joseph, MO	W 38–34	6,533
September 24	1:00 p.m.	Emporia State	No. 13	Audrey J. Walton Stadium Warrensburg, MO	L 31–37 ^2OT	7,995
October 1	5:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State	No. 22	Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, MO	L 17–42	15,349
October 8	1:00 p.m.	Nebraska–Kearney		Audrey J. Walton Stadium Warrensburg, MO	W 36–16	6,637
October 15	6:00 p.m.	at Missouri Southern		Fred G. Hughes Stadium Joplin, MO	W 56–7	2,526
October 22	1:30 p.m.	Washburn		Audrey J. Walton Stadium Warrensburg, MO	W 29–27	9,138
October 29	1:00 p.m.	Central Oklahoma		Audrey J. Walton Stadium Warrensburg, MO	W 48–28	3,895
November 5	2:00 p.m.	at Northeastern State	No. 25	Doc Wadley Stadium Tahlequah, OK	W 59–21	3,250
November 12	1:00 p.m.	Lindenwood	No. 24	Audrey J. Walton Stadium Warrensburg, MO	W 35–7	3,673
November 19	1:00 p.m.	at No. 5 Harding*	No. 20	First Security Stadium Searcy, AR (NCAA Division II First Round)	L 31–48	2,107
*Non-conference game Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[8]

Game summaries

Pittsburg State

Central Missouri at Pittsburg State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• #20 Central Missouri	0	7	20	7	34
Pittsburg State	10	3	0	14	27

Date: September 1
Location: Smith Stadium, Pittsburg, KS
Game start: 7:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:07
Game attendance: 9,311
Game weather: Clear, 72 °F (22 °C)
Referee: Dwight Neibling

Fort Hays State

Fort Hays State at Central Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Fort Hays State	0	7	0	10	17
• #16 Central Missouri	14	3	14	3	34

Date: September 8
Location: Walton Stadium, Warrensburg, MO
Game start: 7:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:51
Game attendance: 7,279
Game weather: Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
Referee: Danny Harris

Missouri Western

Central Missouri at Missouri Western

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• #14 Central Missouri	14	10	7	7	38
Missouri Western	10	7	10	7	34

Date: September 17
Location: Spratt Stadium, St. Joseph, MO
Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:00
Game attendance: 6,533
Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
Referee: Craig Helser

Emporia State

Emporia State at Central Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
• Emporia State	7	3	7	7	7	6	37
#13 Central Missouri	0	7	0	17	7	0	31

Date: September 24
Location: Walton Stadium, Warrensburg, MO
Game start: 1:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:40
Game attendance: 7,995
Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
Referee: John Steiger

Northwest Missouri State

Central Missouri at Northwest Missouri State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
#22 Central Missouri	7	7	0	3	17
• #1 Northwest Missouri State	7	14	7	14	42

Date: October 1
Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Game start: 5:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:49
Game attendance: 15,349
Game weather: Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C)
Referee: Dwight Neibling

Nebraska–Kearney

Nebraska–Kearney at Central Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska–Kearney	0	6	3	7	16
• Central Missouri	7	20	9	0	36

Date: October 8
Location: Walton Stadium, Warrensburg, MO
Game start: 1:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:54
Game attendance: 6,637
Game weather: Sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
Referee: Brian Moore

Missouri Southern

Central Missouri at Missouri Southern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Central Missouri	14	28	7	7	56
Missouri Southern	7	0	0	0	7

Date: October 15
Location: Hughes Stadium, Joplin, MO
Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:52
Game attendance: 2,526
Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 77 °F (25 °C)
Referee: Craig Helser

Washburn

Washburn at Central Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Washburn	3	17	0	7	27
• Central Missouri	13	13	0	3	29

Date: October 22
Location: Walton Stadium, Warrensburg, MO
Game start: 1:30 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:10
Game attendance: 9,138
Game weather: Clear, 65 °F (18 °C)
Referee: Lonnie Brickman

Central Oklahoma

Central Oklahoma at Central Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Central Oklahoma	14	0	7	7	28
• Central Missouri	0	13	21	14	48

Date: October 29
Location: Walton Stadium, Warrensburg, MO
Game start: 1:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:07
Game attendance: 3,895
Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
Referee: John Steiger

Northeastern State

Central Missouri at Northeastern State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• #25 Central Missouri	21	10	14	14	59
Northeastern State	0	0	7	14	21

Date: November 5
Location: Wadley Stadium, Tahlequah, OK
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:50
Game attendance: 3,250
Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
Referee: John Adams

Lindenwood

Lindenwood at Central Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Lindenwood	0	0	0	7	7
• #24 Central Missouri	0	14	7	14	35

Date: November 12
Location: Walton Stadium, Warrensburg, MO
Game start: 1:00 pm CST
Elapsed time: 2:52
Game attendance: 3,673
Game weather: Sunny, 50 °F (10 °C)
Referee: Danny Harris

Harding—NCAA Division II First Round

Central Missouri at Harding

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
#20 Central Missouri	14	10	7	0	31
• #5 Harding	7	21	13	7	48

Date: November 19
Location: First Security Stadium, Searcy, AR
Game start: 1:00 pm CST
Elapsed time: 2:39
Game attendance: 2,107
Game weather: Sunny, 53 °F (12 °C)
Referee: Joe Horn

Personnel

Coaching staff

Along with Svoboda, there are 13 assistants.

Name	Position	Seasons at UCM	Alma Mater
Jim Svoboda	Head Coach	7	Northwestern (IA) (1992)
John McMenamin	Assistant Football Coach – Offensive Coordinator	2	Northwest Missouri State (2003)
Wes Bell	Assistant Football Coach – Defensive Coordinator	1	Emporia State (2003)
Chuck Clemens	Assistant Football Coach – Defensive Line	18	Truman (1988)
Hank McClung	Assistant Football Coach – Offensive Line	7	Eastern New Mexico (1986)
Kyle Westphal	Assistant Football Coach – Defensive Backs / Special Teams Coordinator	5	Simpson College (2005)
Sean Teter	Strength & Conditioning Coordinator	4	Kansas (2010)
Eric Eisenberg	Graduate Assistant – Linebackers	2	Central Florida (2014)
Trey Jackson	Graduate Assistant – Offensive Line	1	Central Missouri (2016)
Ian Toalson	Graduate Assistant – Tight Ends	1	Central Missouri (2016)
Ramond Hunter	Graduate Assistant – Defensive Line	2	Central Missouri (2015)
Jerry McNeal	Graduate Assistant – Football Operations	2	Missouri State (2014)
Brody Rohach	Graduate Assistant – Running Backs	2	Wayne State (2015)
Damon Paul	Volunteer Assistant – Wide Receivers	5	Northwest Missouri State (1984)
Reference:^[9]

Roster

2016 Central Missouri Mules football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`1`	Jaylen Zachery	Jr
QB	`2`	Brook Bolles	So
WR	`4`	Alex Strong	Sr
WR	`5`	Andrew Bakker	Sr
TE	`7`	Justus McMullen	Jr
QB	`10`	Garrett Fugate	Sr
QB	`11`	Eric Siebenshuh	Jr
QB	`12`	Brendon Zachery	Fr
QB	`14`	Kyle Bradley	Fr
WR	`15`	Wesley Thomas	Jr
WR	`16`	Tyler Jones	Sr
WR	`19`	Kyle Echols	Jr
RB	`21`	Gabe Vandiver	Sr
RB	`23`	Spencer Stein	Sr
RB	`24`	Xavier Washpun	Jr
RB	`29`	Steven Ford	Fr
RB	`30`	Marquel McNac	Jr
RB	`32`	Devante Turner	Fr
WR	`38`	Franklin Hunt	Fr
TE	`48`	Zach Davidson	Fr
OL	`53`	Graham Baucom	Fr
OL	`54`	Chris Gomez	Jr
OL	`55`	Derrick Puni	Jr
OL	`59`	Nate Farnsworth	Fr
OL	`60`	Jake Heckler	Fr
OL	`61`	Terrence Pryor	Fr
OL	`63`	Brian Timmons	Fr
OL	`66`	Jesse Brookus, Jr.	Fr
OL	`67`	Dylan Scheirich	Fr
OL	`68`	Connor Hill	Fr
OL	`70`	Jamar Grant	Fr
OL	`71`	Kane Barker	Jr
OL	`72`	Layne Fischer	Jr
OL	`73`	Michael Hicks	Fr
OL	`74`	Markus Zimmerman	So
OL	`76`	Cal Hegman	Fr
OL	`77`	Drew Oberle	Fr
OL	`78`	Nick Warren	So
WR	`80`	Tyus Franks	Fr
TE	`82`	Charles Smith	So
WR	`83`	Udell Hyde	So
WR	`84`	Jovante Siglar	Jr
TE	`85`	Seth Herbert	So
WR	`86`	Hunter Allee	Fr
TE	`87`	Tyler Nugent	Jr
TE	`88`	Grant Bengtson	So
TE	`93`	Brice Renner	Fr
TE	`94`	Adam Bax	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`3`	Tavion Vaughn	Sr
DB	`6`	Tevin Teamer	Jr
DB	`8`	Diaron Rhodes	Jr
LB	`9`	J.R. Alexander	Sr
DB	`13`	Blake Cooper	Fr
DB	`17`	Jordan Conaty	Jr
DB	`18`	Justin Biermann	So
LB	`22`	Mark Cushing	Jr
LB	`25`	Marques Cooper	Fr
DB	`26`	Monteze Latimore	Jr
DB	`27`	Jordan Dickson	So
DB	`28`	Brian Smith	Sr
DB	`31`	Tanner Kanak	So
DB	`33`	Jontrell Mitchell	Fr
DB	`35`	Dylan Albertson	So
LB	`37`	Ezra Boyd	So
LB	`39`	Alex Lackey	Jr
LB	`40`	John Embrey	Fr
LB	`41`	Jack Crown	Sr
DB	`42`	Jackson Newman	So
LB	`43`	Tyson Holcombe	Jr
DL	`44`	Connor Flagel	Jr
DB	`45`	James Willis	So
LB	`49`	Austin Miller	Jr
LB	`51`	Rick Pesek	So
LB	`52`	Kenny Jacobs	Jr
LB	`56`	Michael Tannehill	So
LB	`57`	Amel Cofield	So
DE	`58`	Tony Casados	Jr
DL	`62`	Ubong Udom	Fr
DL	`64`	Dalainey Taala	So
DB	`81`	Kareem Sanders	Fr
DL	`90`	Triphinue Taylor	Fr
DE	`91`	Jordan Hardwick	Fr
DL	`92`	Tony Leachman	Fr
DL	`96`	Irana Moore	Fr
DL	`97`	Josh Powell	Fr
DL	`98`	Wyatt Hendrix	Fr
DL	`99`	Dalen Winston	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K/P	`34`	Logan Offner	Fr
LS	`46`	Garrett Cline	Jr
K	`47`	Billy Greco	So
K	`69`	Jordan McFarlen	So
P	`95`	Ryan Tanner	Sr

Head coach

Jim Svoboda

Coordinators/assistant coaches

See coaching staff

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2016-08-12

References

^ "Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field". Retrieved June 4, 2016.
^ "Mules Football set to kick off 2016 season on Thursday night at Pittsburg State". August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
^ "Mules Football Picked Second in MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Poll". August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
^ "NWMSU Tops Football Polls". Retrieved August 5, 2016.
^ "Northwest Missouri State No. 1 in Preseason AFCA Poll". August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ "Mules Football ranked No. 20 in AFCA Preseason Poll". August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ "Top 25 Poll". D2football.com. August 22, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
^ "2016 Central Missouri Mules Football Schedule". University of Central Missouri Athletics. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
^ "University of Central Missouri – 2016 Football Coaching Staff". Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016.

[1] "Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field". Retrieved June 4, 2016.

[2] "Mules Football set to kick off 2016 season on Thursday night at Pittsburg State". August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2016.

[3] "Mules Football Picked Second in MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Poll". August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.

[4] "NWMSU Tops Football Polls". Retrieved August 5, 2016.

[5] "Northwest Missouri State No. 1 in Preseason AFCA Poll". August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.

[6] "Mules Football ranked No. 20 in AFCA Preseason Poll". August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.

[7] "Top 25 Poll". D2football.com. August 22, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.

[8] "2016 Central Missouri Mules Football Schedule". University of Central Missouri Athletics. Retrieved December 26, 2023.

[coachingstaff-9] "University of Central Missouri – 2016 Football Coaching Staff". Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016.

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Central Missouri Mules football
Venues	Walton Stadium (1928–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games
Culture & lore	1951 Southwestern Game (rejected touchdown game)
People	Head coaches NFL Draftees
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