Mules' fast start dooms Lions

The University of Central Missouri jumped out to a 23-0 lead Saturday en route to a 47-14 rout of Missouri Southern.

Quarterback Eric Czerniewski threw three touchdown passes in the first half of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football game in Joplin.

Tim Richmond, who caught eight passes for 149 yards Saturday, hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play 76-yard drive in the first quarter.

Mark Starks’ point after touchdown gave the 21st-ranked Mules a 7-0 lead with 44 seconds left in the first quarter.

Starks kicked a 28-yard field midway through the second quarter. His field goal was set up by Steven Ehase’s interception and 6-yard return to the Missouri Southern 18-yard line.

The Mules (6-2, 4-2 MIAA) then recovered their own onside kick at the Missouri Southern 47.

Richmond scored a TD on a 47-yard pass play from Czerniewski 15 seconds later for a 17-0 lead.

With a big deficit, the Lions tried to convert a four-and-6 play near midfield on their next drive. However, Jordan Patton’s run came up 2 yards short.

On the next play, Czerniewski connected with Sean Thornton for a 48-yard TD to push the lead to 23-0. Starks missed the extra-point try.

Missouri Southern (4-4, 2-4) got on the scoreboard before halftime when Mark Henderson caught a 7-yard TD pass from Collin Howard with 24 seconds left. The two hooked up for another touchdown in the fourth quarter.

After Glenn Milner scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run midway through the third quarter, Czerniewski threw his fourth and final TD pass of the game.

DeMarco Cosby was the recipient of the 80-yard scoring strike with 2:15 left in the third.

Starks’ kick gave the Mules a 37-7 lead.

The Mules blocked a 31-yard field-goal attempt by Missouri Southern one play before the touchdown. Max Fairclough recovered the loose ball at the Mules’ 20.

Czerniewski completed 15 of 28 passes for 317 yards.

Milner led the Mules with 85 yards rushing on 16 attempts.