Final: Central Missouri 55, ACU 41

UCM scored its first TD of the second half when Czerniewski threw a 61-yard TD pass to Jamorris Warren. ACU blocked the PAT kick, however, making the new score 41-34 with 13:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Mules scored again when Czerniewski threw his sixth TD pass of the game, a 5-yarder to Morris with 4:53 left, growing UCM's lead to 48-34.

ACU answered back when Gale hit WR Edmund Gates with a 32-yard TD pass with 2:23 left. Lineberry's PAT made it 48-41.

UCM recovered the ensuing onside kick, and two plays later, Stewart bolted off right tackle for 42 yards and a Mules TD. The PAT gave his team the lead, 55-41, with 2:10 left.

That was the final score, ending the Wildcats' most successful season in 33 years at 11-1. UCM (11-2) advanced to play rival Northwest Missouri State, which rallied to beat LSC runner-up Texas A&M-Kingsville, 35-31.

End of Q3: Central Missouri 35, ACU 34

ACU's Mitchell Gale marched his team down the field on a nine-play drive that consumed nearly 10 minutes of time and opened the third quarter, capped by a 17-yard TD pass (his fourth of the game to Ben Gibbs (his second) at 9:51. Morgan Lineberry's PAT cut UCM's led to 35-28.

The Wildcats scored their 25th straight point when Lineberry kicked a 38-yard field goal to reduce UCM's margin to 35-31 at 7:27 of the third quarter, and their 28th straight when Lineberry booted another field goal of 17 yards with 26 seconds left, making it 35-34.

End of Q2: Central Missouri 35, ACU 21

ACU got back in the game by outscoring UCM, 21-14, in a wild quarter of action.

QB Mitchell Gale got ACU on the board with a 3-yard TD pass to tight end Ben Gibbs at the 10:27 mark.

UCM answered with two touchdown passes from Eric Czerniewski, the first to WR Jamorris Warren for 15 yards at 7:32 and the second for 20 yards to TE David Cannon.

Cannon's was the first of three TDs for the two teams in the final 95 seconds of the quarter.

Both of ACU's scores came on one-play drives. On the ensuing play from scrimmage following Cannon's TD, Gale completed a pass in the left flat to WR Kendrick Johnson, who spun out of a tackle and ran 58 yards for a score.

ACU's defense stopped UCM on its next possession, and an 8-yard punt under heavy pressure gave the Wildcats the ball back at the Mules' 20-yard line. Gale completed a 20-yard TD pass to wide-open WR Raymond Radway on the next play, then ran in the two-point conversion himself to bring ACU to within 14 at 35-21 with 10 seconds left.

At the half, UCM led in total yards (303 to 200), passing yards (286 to 158) and first downs (13 to 11). ACU had the edge in rushing yards (42 to 17).

Gale completed 15 of 23 yards for 158 yards, one interception and three TDs. Daryl Richardson and Darrell Cantu-Harkless shared the ACU rushing lead with 19 yards each. Kendrick Johnson was the Wildcats' leading receiver with four catches or 88 yards and a TD.

Czerniewski – who with ACU's Gale is one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy recognizing the top player in NCAA Divsion II – completed 20 of 27 passes for 286 yards and four TDs.

End of Q1: Central Missouri 21, ACU 0

A good crowd was in Shotwell Stadium today, considering that ACU students were off on their Thanksgiving holiday, and thousands of fans of Abilene High School and Abilene Cooper High School were on a caravan to Arlington, Texas, where both schools were playing (in separate afternoon games) in the UIL playoffs at Cowboys Stadium.

Central Missouri struck first when UCM running back Anthony Stewart ran untouched around left end for 9 yards and a TD at 8:22 of the first quarter. Aaron Jamieson's PAT made the score 7-0.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, ACU quarterback Mitchell Gale threw only his third interception of the season. Mules' cornerback Marion Douglas snagged the pass, and UCM scored on the next play when QB Eric Czerniewski tossed a 9-yard TD pass to TE DeMarco Cosby. Jamieson's PAT padded the Mules' lead to 14-0, just 18 seconds after their first TD.

Czerniewski connected with Stewart on pass in the right flat, and the senior ran untouched for 24 yards and another UCM TD with 2:16 left. Jamieson's PAT made the score 21-0.

After one quarter of play, UCM led in first downs (5 to 2), total yards (156 to 39), rushing yards (17 to 3) and passing yards (139 to 36).

UCM started its first-round game win last week in a similar way, building a 28-0 lead against West Texas A&M on its way to a 55-35 win.

ACU falls to Washburn, 3-1 in NCAA Tournament

Wildcats fall in tough match to Washburn, 3-1. More to come on acusports.com shortly.