Five turnovers hinder Central Missouri at No. 8 Emporia State

Published 1:50 am Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Central Missouri’s offense totaled 633 yards but turned the ball over five times in a 58-38 loss to No. 8 Emporia State on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas.

The Mules jumped out to a 21-10 advantage, scoring on their first three possessions. Emporia answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jamison Sarver to redshirt senior defensive back Ethan Schultze and a 100-yard pick-six by redshirt senior defensive back Clem McCullough to take a 24-21 halftime lead.

Emporia (8-0, 6-0 MIAA) opened the second half with a 91-yard kickoff return by redshirt junior wide receiver Corey Turner II, before adding a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sarver to Schultze, making it 38-21 with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter.

​The Mules (5-3, 4-2 MIAA) ended Emporia’s four-touchdown burst with a 28-yard field goal from senior kicker Will Peacock with 6:33 left in the third. Mules senior defensive back Trel Riley went on to intercept Sarver, giving the Mules the ball back at the Mules’ four-yard line.

UCM went three-and-out after, punting the ball back to Emporia, who capped a four-play, 42-yard possession with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sarver to redshirt junior wide receiver Trenden Collins with 3:35 left in the third.

​The Mules went on to post a two-play stretch that ended with a 75-yard touchdown pass from fifth-year quarterback Jordan Pachot to senior wide receiver Armand Russell.

The Mules held Emporia to a 39-yard field goal after, making it 48-31 with 50 seconds remaining in the third. Pachot went on to throw three consecutive interceptions, while Emporia posted a 38-yard touchdown pass from Sarver to freshman running back Vudrico Roberson and a 33-yard field goal to lead 58-31 with 12:23 left.

Pachot completed 45-of-63 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns. He threw four interceptions. Senior wide receiver Marlon Lindsey Jr. had nine catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns; Russell had two catches for 108 yards and a touchdown; fifth-year wide receiver Jake Weber had nine catches for 94 yards and sophomore wide receiver Trevor Garlington had six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Fifth-year running back DJ Brown ran for 45 yards on 15 carries.

For Emporia, McCollough intercepted Pachot twice, while senior linebacker Landon Boss and redshirt senior defensive back Tyler Schultze each had an interception. Boss also recovered a fumble by Pachot.

​Sarver completed 28-of-40 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns. Ethan Schultze had five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Roberson had three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

​Junior running back Charles Morgan ran for 49 yards on five carries. Sophomore wide receiver Ondraye Beasley had one rush for 45 yards. Redshirt junior running back Camden Crooks had 14 rushes for 40 yards.

Riley led UCM with two tackles for loss. Fifth-year wide receiver Abe Hoskins had one. Senior linebacker Marcus Williams had a team-leading nine tackles.

The Mules return home to host Fort Hays State at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Walton Stadium.

AROUND THE MIAA

No. 11 Northwest Missouri (6-1, 5-1 MIAA) 27, Nebraska-Kearney (1-7, 1-5 MIAA) 10

Washburn (5-2-1, 4-2 MIAA) 31, Fort Hays State (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) 22

Pittsburg State (3-5, 3-2 MIAA) 52, Central Oklahoma (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) 14

Missouri Southern (2-6, 1-5 MIAA) 38, Missouri Western (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) 14

Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.