Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Central Missouri Mules used some big plays to score 38 second half points in a 45-28 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.,

UCM improves to 2-2 (2-2) while UNK falls to 0-4 (0-4). The Mules now lead the all-time series, 4-2.

UNK was up 14-7 at the break after going on a seven-play, 96-yard drive that was capped when junior quarterback Bronson Marsh (Millard South) hooked up with redshirt freshman receiver Tityus Mitchell (Hastings, Fla.) from 29 yards out.

At the break, the Lopers had out gained the Mules by a 210-102 margin. That advantage came despite an average starting field position of the Kearney 18-yard line.

Things changed in the 2nd half as UCM scored 17 points in the 3rd quarter and 21 more in the fourth. Senior QB Hayden Hawk, formerly of UNO, had scoring passes of 51 and 82 yards to redshirt freshman receiver Kyle Echols with MIAA rushing leader LaVance Taylor rushing 73 yards for a TD with 4:57 left.

Taylor was limited in the 1st half but finished with 19 carries for 157 yards. Besides his long scoring run, he reached the end zone from 5 and 13 yards out and also had a 23 yard reception.

UCM ended the day with 499 yards while UNK had 402. Both teams got after the quarterback as the Mules had six sacks and the Lopers five.

Having his best day of 2014, Marsh was 25 of 44 for 253 yards and three TD's. He also had 17 carries for a net of 30 yards, including a long scamper of 33 yards that kept that 96-yard drive alive.

Going over 1,000 career yards, junior back Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) had 18 carries for 105 yards and a score. His TD came from 49 yards out and gave UNK a 7-0 lead. It also marked his career-long run.,

Junior Allen Sampson (Tampa, Fla.) was one of eight Lopers to have a reception, tallying nine for 79 yards and one TD. The other scoring pass went to junior receiver Cougar Williams (Hanford, Calif.).

UCM saw Hawk go 18 of 29 for 347 yards, three TD's and one INT. He completed passes to nine teammates, led by Echols (three for 145 yards).

Defensively, for the eighth straight game, Sargent sophomore ILB Tyke Kozeal had at least 10 tackles. He made a game-high 14, including four tackles for a loss of 15 yards. That included an 11-yard sack.

Also getting to Hawk were defensive ends Wyatt Anderson (Arapahoe) and Peyton Lange (Elkhorn) and OLB Devontay LeFlore (Omaha Central).

Finally, redshirt freshman safety George Brown (University City, Mo.) had his second INT of 2014, bringing it back 33 yards to set up a Loper 4th quarter score.

Next week, UNK hosts Central Oklahoma (3-1) in the "MIAA Game of the Week." Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

UCO fell at home today to No. 1 NW Missouri, 36-13. Several key Bronchos were out with injury, including starting QB Chas Stallard and All-American WR Marquez Clark.