WARRENSBURG, MO – On a Saturday filled with close contests between other MIAA teams, SBU's bid for an upset ended early, with the Bearcats falling to Central Missouri 49-24. SBU led the Mules 10-7 after the first quarter, but 35 unanswered UCM points sealed the game. UCM quarterback Toby Korrodi was 16 of 16 passing for 233 yards and six touchdowns (5 pass, 1 rush).

Central Missouri opened the scoring on their first drive with a 48-yard touchdown from Korrodi to Rolando Sawyer.  SBU responded on their first possession with a 24-yard field goal from Ryan Smith. SBU grabbed their only lead of the game when senior safety Klint King sacked UCM's Korrodi forcing a fumble which was scooped up by DB Terry Jones and returned 48 yards for the score. The score was 10-7 in favor of the 'Cats until early in the second quarter. UCM would then cap a long drive with Korrodi rushing for a 1-yard touchdown. This would begin the Mules' scoring barrage. The Mules would add a 34-yard TD pass to lead 21-10 at the half.

It would be three more UCM touchdowns before the Bearcats would score again. SBU's Robert Clardy moved into first place all-time on the school's career passing touchdown list with 30 total, when he hit Nick Smart on a 30-yard strike in the fourth quarter. Clardy would also connect with Smart for another score late in the fourth.

While the Bearcats would gain 350 yards in total offense, this was down slightly from their #7 nationally ranked average total of 407 yards per game. They also came in averaging 270 yards by air but amassed only 157 yards against UCM. Robert Clardy was 13 of 16 passing for just 114 yards but did have the two touchdown passes to Nick Smart. Moine Nicholson led the SBU ground game with 86 yards on 16 carries while Clardy also had 73 yards rushing. Durrell Pride had six catches for 40 yards and Smart had four catches for 70 yards and two scores. Robert Barrow led the Bearcats with eight total tackles including four solo stops. Terry Jones had seven tackles along with his fumble recovery score while Tony Holman also had seven tackles for SBU.

It's another tough road test for the Bearcats next weekend as they will travel to Pittsburg, Kansas to take on the Pitt State Gorillas. Kickoff will be at 2 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium, in what will be the third straight Homecoming contest for the SBU Bearcats (FHSU, at UCM, at PSU).