Box Score Kearney, Neb.  – Senior quarterback Garrett Fugate threw for 297 yards and four touchdowns to help Central Missouri beat Nebraska-Kearney, 36-16, Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
A playoff caliber team that has been nationally-ranked this season, UCM (4-2) stops a two-game losing streak with the win in front of 6,637 fans.
 
The MIAA leader in passing yards per game at 306, Fugate reached his yardage and scoring total by completing 15 of 22 passes. Playing three quarters, he also rushed for 19 yards with an unlikely candidate being his favorite target.
 
Junior tight end Justus McMullen hadn't caught a pass in three appearances this fall but had two receptions today for 102 yards and two TD's.
 
The Mules busted open a 7-3 game by scoring 20 points over a five-minute span in the second quarter. First, a six-play, 83-yard drive ended when Fugate hit McMullen from 35 yards out on 4th & 2.

 
After junior Brendan Wentling (Grand Island H.S.) just missed a 49-yard field goal two minutes later, UCM faced a 3rd & 9 from its own 33-yard line. Fugate tossed a short pass to McMullen, who turned inside and up the field for a 67-yard score.
 
Three plays later, sophomore free safety Jackson Newman picked off Steve Worthing (Elkhorn South H.S.) and raced 33 yards for an insurmountable 27-3 UCM lead. On the season, UNK has been outscored 86-20 in the second quarter. 

The Mule defense finished with 14 tackles for loss, including five sacks, broke up five passes and recorded a safety early in the second half thanks to a high snap.
 
Kearney's offense did produce 22 first downs, 351 yards and had the ball for 32:48. However, besides the missed field goal, two drives ended on downs at the UCM 40-yard line.
 
Outscoring the Mules 10-9 in the second half, the Lopers saw Worthing go 19 of 35 for 166 yards, one TD and one INT. He also rushed for a team-high 68 yards as he had scampers of 19, 20 and 38 yards. Redshirt freshman Justin Roberts (Arvada, Colo.) came in late and went 6 of 9 for 62 yards.
 
Eight different UNK players had at least one catch, led by sophomore Blake Holtmeier (Kearney Catholic H.S.) and redshirt freshman Austan Daniels (Omaha Burke H.S.) with seven apiece.
 
Holtmeier tallied 61 yards, including a nine-yard scoring pass with eight minutes left in the game. Daniels had his breakout collegiate effort, finishing with 58 yards. Also, Minnesota junior Malcolm Moore had a team-best 71 receiving yards on four grabs.

Playing two quarters, Arizona sophomore back Luke Quinn totaled 51 yards on 12 carries and also caught two passes for 11 yards.
 

Next, Wentling had his best day as a Loper, booting field goals of 35, 38 and 52 yards. Also making one PAT, he is the seventh UNK kicker to have a field goal of 50 yards or more with his 52 yarder tied for fourth longest in school history.
 
Besides Fugate and McMullen, UCM ran 40 times for 154 yards and one TD and had four different players have three catches apiece. That group included senior receiver Tyler Jones (79 yards and one TD).

Newman led the Mule defense with 11 tackles (eight solo) with senior backer Josh Powell and sophomore nose guard Dalainey Taala both having 2.0 TFL's.
 
UNK got a game-high 14 tackles (nine solo) from Sargent senior backer Tyke Kozeal. That gives him 526 in his career, second most in Division II history.
 
Also, redshirt freshman backer DJ Curtis (St. Charles Mo.) had six tackles, true freshman end Hinwa Allieu (Gaithersburg, Md.) made five stops with junior corner Justin James (Charlotte, N.C.) having a PBU and one of UNK's two sacks.
 
UNK hosts Central Oklahoma next Saturday. The Bronchos fell to 1-5 after a 56-10 home loss to No.1 NW Missouri State today.