Complete Game Notes
Game 8: Central Missouri (2-6, 2-6 MIAA) at Lincoln (0-7, 0-7 MIAA)
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 30 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Jefferson City, Mo.
Stadium (Capacity): Dwight T. Reed Stadium (5,500)
Tickets: Available online at http://lubluetigers.com/tickets | Adults - $10 | Children Under the Age of Six - Free  | Non-LU Students/LU Faculty & Staff - $5 | LU Students (With ID) - Free
Streaming: https://themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers/
Radio: KJLU 88.9 FM - Jefferson City, Mo.
Audiocast: http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KJLU
Live Stats: https://lubluetigers.com/sidearmstats/football/
Series: UCM leads, 24-7

THE KICKOFF 
After spending the past two weekends on the road, the Lincoln football team is back home at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 30). Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT as the Blue Tigers host Central Missouri, renewing one of LU's longest-running rivalries.

Lincoln fell to Nebraska Kearney, 56-0, in its last game on Saturday (Oct. 23). The Blue Tigers have been tough at home, however, averaging 40 points per game in their past two games at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Central Missouri enters the week with a 2-6 record after dropping a 21-17 decision to Fort Hays State at home on Saturday.

Prior to Saturday's game, the Lincoln Department of Athletics will team with the Lincoln University Campus Activity Board, the United Way and the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City to hold a Trunk-or-Treat at the LU Softball Field parking lot, located next to Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Kids in the Jefferson City area are invited to come out and collect candy!

QUICK HITS 
- This will be the 32nd meeting between Central Missouri and Lincoln, with the Mules leading the series, 24-7.

- Lincoln has played UCM more than any other team in the MIAA, with 31 meetings in a series dating back to 1957. Among the current members of the MIAA, Central Missoui is LU's most-played opponent, with Northwest Missouri next at 24 contests.

- The Blue Tigers have played only five other programs more than Central Missouri: Langston (64 games), Central State (57), Kentucky State (48), Arkansas-Pinebluff (36) and Missouri S&T (34).

- LU is seeking its first win over Central Missouri since 1978, when the Blue Tigers defeated the Mules, 21-6, in Jefferson City. Central Missouri has won 19-straight in the series since that Lincoln victory.

- A victory on Saturday would be the first for Lincoln in 2021, and the first for LU since defeating Northeastern State, 27-9, on Oct. 19, 2019.

- A win would also be the first for Lincoln against a team based in Missouri since defeating William Jewell on the road in 2018.

- The Blue Tigers enter the 2021 season with an all-time record of 261-471-25.

- Malik Hoskins was named the interim head coach of the Blue Tigers in May of 2019, and was promoted to the full-time position at the end of that year. He enters the week with an LU record of 1-17 and an overall record of 4-24.

- Lincoln is in second-consecutive year, and its 25th overall as a football-playing member of the MIAA. The Blue Tigers, who were an associate member of the GLVC from 2014-18, previously played in the MIAA from 1970-89 and from 2011-13. The MIAA is the fifth different conference in which the Blue Tigers have been a member, joining the Midwest Athletic Association, the Great Lakes Football Conference, the Central States Football League and the GLVC.

- This is the 90th season of Lincoln football. The Blue Tigers first fielded a team in 1920 and played every year until 1943, when Lincoln took a year off due to World War II. LU then played each season from 1944-1989. The football program was disbanded at that point, but was brought back in 2000.

BLUE TIGERS TO WATCH
OFFENSE - Zamar Brake turned in a record-setting performance against Northeastern State, passing for 454 yards and four touchdowns, both of which are new single-game standards at Lincoln. Brake is averaging 201.4 yards per game and has thrown 11 touchdown passes with three interceptions on the year.

Hosea Franklin, a 2019 Don Hansen Division II All-American honorable mention, has gained over 100 yards in three of the past five games, and has scored six touchdowns on the year while gaining 598 yards. Winston Ausmer leads the receiving corps with 25 grabs for 375 yards and four scores, while Charles Johnson has 11 catches, including three touchdown grabs. Chrisshun Robinson has 13 receptions, and Aderias Ealy has caught 10 passes.

DEFENSE - Elliott Albert is having a fantastic year, as he leads Lincoln with 63 total tackles, has made 3.5 tackles for loss, and has an INT, a fumble recovery and five broken-up passes. Chris Parker and Piere' Jones each have an interception, while Cody Bagby has made 33 tackles, forced a fumble and totaled 4.5 tackles for loss. TeAndre Skinner, meanwhile, has a sack, has blocked a kick and has made 48 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss.

Jaylon Mosley has 28 solo tackles and 48 total takedowns on the year, and Samuel Amituanai has three tackles for loss and has joined with Terrion Williams for a sack. Zyan Thomas-King has broken up three passes and made 25 tackles, and Charles Robertson has made 21 tackles, including 17 solo. Caleb Rozar has 10 tackles on the year, and Devyn Sigars has notched 15 takedowns. As a team, LU has made 26 tackles for loss and has broken up 15 passes.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Winston Ausmer is the main returner, averaging 8.5 yards on punt returns and 10.1 yards on kick returns. Tori Hicks averages 16.8 yards on kick returns, while Brandon Mackey, Jr. is next with 13.0 yards per return. Clayton Winkler is Lincoln's kicker, and averages 44.8 yards on kickoffs. On punts, Winkler is averaging 37.9 yards, with seven kicks traveling at least 50 yards and three resulting in a fair catch.

CENTRAL MISSOURI AT A GLANCE
Logan Twehous has thrown 17 touchdown passes as UCM's main signal caller, and he has completed 147 of his 232 pass attempts for 1,974 yards. Kyle Bradley also has thrown four picks against two touchdowns, while Cedric Case is six-for-11 on the season. Leading the way in the receiving corps is Cameron Saunders with 47 grabs for 956 yards, and he has six touchdowns while Arkell Smith has a team-high seven scoring receptions. Six other Central Missouri players also have caught at least one touchdown pass. In the run game, Koby Wilkerson has a team-high 401 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

The Mules have tenaciously forced turnovers all through the year, as UCM has intercepted eight passes and both forced and recovered seven fumbles. Aundra Gilbert, Dylan Price and Codie Bell each have two picks, with both Gilbert and Duane Clayton II having broken up four passes. Bell leads the defense with 73 tackles, Chima Dunga has a team-high seven tackles for loss, including a pair of sacks, and Deven Smith has 43 tackles as well as four tackles for loss. Central Missouri has sacked the QB 13 times in 2021, and the Mules have 42 tackles for loss.

Chris Diddle is 4-for-7 on field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards, and he averages 58.6 yards on kickoffs while Samuel Knowlton averages 57.5 yards. Josh Reynolds is averaging 35.7 yards on punts, with 20 resulting in a fair catch. In the return game, Wilkerson averages 4.0 yards on punts and 17.7 yards on kickoffs.

THE COACHES
Malik Hoskins is in his second season as the head coach of the Lincoln football team. Hoskins was elevated to the position of interim head coach prior to the 2019 season after spending two seasons serving as Lincoln's offensive coordinator. In his first year as the head coach, he led the team's return to the MIAA, culminating with a 27-9 win over Northeastern State on Homecoming. After the 2019 season, Hoskins was named the full-time head coach of the Blue Tigers. Hoskins also was the interim coach at Lane in 2015.

Jim Svoboda is in his 11th year as the head coach of the Mules and has led UCM to a 83-42 overall record in that span. During his time with Central Missouri, Svoboda's teams have broken 94 school and 21 conference offensive records, and 24 players coached by Svoboda have earned All-American recognition. Svoboda has also coached 131 All-MIAA players, including 27 first team selections.

BROKEN RECORDS:  Lincoln enjoyed its best passing performance ever against Northeastern State, as quarterback Zamar Brake threw for 454 yards and four scores. The yardage breaks team and individual single-game records, which stood at 445 and 424, respectively, entering the season. The four touchdown passes also tied the single-game record. Additionally, Lincoln ran 92 plays on offense, tying the team single-game record.

PACING THE NCAA:  Zamar Brake became the first Lincoln freshman quarterback in decades to throw for at least 1,000 years in a season halfway through the 2021 campaign, and his numbers are stacking up well in the NCAA Division II ratings. For the season, Brake currently is 12th nationally in yards per completion (15.0), 49th in the country in passing efficiency (137.9) and 75th nationally in total offense (211.6).

NCAA LEADERS:  Entering the ninth week of the season, Lincoln is ranked highly in NCAA DII in several statistics. With just four interceptions thrown on the year, Lincoln is tied for 18th in the nation. The Blue Tigers are 27th in passing yards per completion (14.2), 31st in turnovers lost (nine) and 67th in team passing efficiency (134.3). Lincoln additionally ranks 73rd in fumbles lost (five) and 85th in fewest penalty yards (496).

FOR THE WIN-STON:  Winston Ausmer has been one of the MIAA's best receivers, catching 25 passes for 375 yards and four scores. Ausmer, who is currently 12th in the MIAA in touchdown grabs, ranks 15th in the league in passes caught per game (3.6), as well as 16th in the conference in receiving yards per contest (53.6).

WHAT A RUSH: Hosea Franklin set the Lincoln standard in rushing in 2019, finishing with 1,359 yards, a new program record. Franklin earned first team All-MIAA and all-region honors for the year, as well an All-American honorable mention award.

BACK ON THE RUN:  After being slowed by the defenses in Lincoln's first two contests of 2021, Hosea Franklin has totaled over 100 rushing yards in three of the last five games. He's averaging 85.4 yards per game and has scored six touchdowns.

FRANKLY:  Hosea Franklin is moving up the ranks in both the NCAA Division II and MIAA statistics. He is 45th nationally with six rushing touchdowns. In the league standings, he ranks fourth in touchdowns and rushing yards per game (85.4), as well as seventh in all-purpose yards (98.7).

OUT OF STATE:  The Blue Tigers will spend a lot of time on the road in 2021. LU is scheduled to play five games on the road this year, and none in the state of Missouri. Lincoln will play three games in Kansas (at Fort Hays State on Sept. 18, at Pittsburg State on Oct. 16 and at Emporia State on Nov. 6), one contest in Oklahoma (at Central Oklahoma on Oct. 2) and one game in Nebraska (at Nebraska Kearney on Oct. 23).

TICKETS:  For the first time ever, fans can purchase their tickets to Lincoln's home football games online. Head to http://lubluetigers.com/tickets to purchase both season and individual game tickets for the 2021 season.

JOIN THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM:  The Blue Tiger Athletics Club is a great way to engage with other LU fans while supporting Lincoln student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the club goes towards scholarships for students, improving campus facilities and purchasing and maintaining equipment. To join the BTAC, or to learn more about the club, please visit www.LUBlueTigers.com/BTAC.

LU PLAYS ON KJLU:  Veteran play-by-play announcer James Stanley returns to the airwaves to provide Lincoln fans the action on the field in 2021. Stanley will call all five of LU's home games, and fans can listen to him live on 88.9 FM KJLU. Those not in the Jefferson City area can also listen to the games on KJLU's website, http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KJLU.

...AND ONLINE:  All 10 of Lincoln's games will also stream online at www.themiaanetwork.com/lubluetigers.

GEAR UP FOR THE GAME:  LU fans can get everything they need for the game at www.BlueTigersStore.com, the official online store for LU athletics. Everything from jerseys to office supplies can be found on the site, with a portion of all sales going to benefit Lincoln athletics.

UP NEXT:  Lincoln plays its final road game of 2021 next Saturday (Nov. 6), as the Blue Tigers travel to Emporia, Kan. to play Emporia State at 1:00 p.m. CT.