UCM senior will Caldwell rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in last Saturday's win over Emporia State. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

WARRENSBURG. Mo. -- This week, Pittsburg, Kan. could be a land of opportunity for the University of Central Missouri football squad. The Mules (5-5, 3-5 MIAA) enter Saturday’s season finale against 16th ranked Pittsburg State (8-2, 6-2) with chances to make a little history.

First, a win would give UCM its ninth consecutive winning season under head coach Willie Fritz. Second, a win would mark the first time Central Missouri triumphed over the Gorillas two years in a row for the first time in series history.

Third, a Mules victory could possibly knock Pitt State out of playoff contention.

Wouldn’t that be a (Mule) kick in the head?

Center Mike Pope (50) and quarterback Toby Korrodi will play their final game Saturday at Pittsburg. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

“We sure would like to go out with a win,” Fritz said. “It wasn’t the kind of season that we wanted to have, but it would give us a special feel for the year if we finish out well against Pittsburg on Saturday.”

Central Missouri is coming off last Saturday’s 48-21 triumph over Emporia State. The Mules rolled up 505 yards total offense, 348 of it through the air on only 18 completions.

Quarterback Toby Korrodi threw four touchdown passes, hitting on 75 percent of his pass attempts. UCM’s ground game churned up 157 yards and three more scores while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

“The thing that was good is that we didn’t make very many mistakes and we really ran the ball well,” Fritz said. “That completely opened up the passing game and we had a lot of big plays there. When you run the ball effectively, that’s what can happen.”

The Mules will be facing a Pitt State defense that ranks ninth in the MIAA, giving up 370 yards per game.

Warrensburg niatve Germaine Race leads the MIAA in rushing and scoring, averaging 145 yards and 14 points per game. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

“We’re going to run the ball at them,” Fritz said. “We feel if we can run the ball effectively, we should be very successful throwing the ball as well. There have been some teams who have run the ball against them and that’s what we want to do as well.”

Offensively, the Gorillas are at the other extreme, leading the conference in total offense while averaging more than 46 points per game. Warrensburg native Germaine Race is averaging 145 yards rushing and 14 points per game, topping the MIAA in both categories.

“They run the ball like crazy,” Fritz said. “We need to do a good job of slowing them down running the ball. What they do is play pass off of it and throw balls deep downfield. They’re either trying to knock you off the ball and be effective running or throw the ball way downfield. We’ve got to stay over the top of everything, not allow them a big play in the air and also be sure tacklers. There are going to be times we have to pack the box to not let them be effective running the ball.”

The Mules will need to slow down a high-powered Pittsburg State running attack Saturday. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Pittsburg State is coming off a 41-14 drubbing at the hands of second ranked Northwest Missouri State in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead V last Saturday. Race was held to 68 yards on 21 carries in that game.

In last season’s finale at Warrensburg, the Mules erupted for an 83-21 victory, the worst defeat ever handed PSU since it joined the MIAA in 1989. Fritz knows the Gorillas will be out for revenge, but noted that 2006 is a different season.

“That was last year, this is a totally different team and they‘re a totally different team,” Fritz said. “Obviously, we got on one heck of a roll and played great. They played terrible. I really feel if we go down there and play to our potential, we can win Saturday. Our kids have worked hard all year and really believe we‘re a good football team. IF we can get a win Saturday, I think we can prove that.”

Kickoff Saturday is 2 p.m. at Pittsburg’s Carnie Smith Stadium.

Mules-Pitt Game Available Free on the Internet

Saturday’s game will be web cast on the Internet. The feed is free and may be accessed at www.pennatlantic.com