WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Missouri scored two touchdowns in the final 5:35 and rallied for a 34-30 win over No. 11 Fort Hays State in the season opener for both Thursday night at Walton Stadium. Cameron Saunders hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Brook Bolles with 1:33 left to give the UCM the lead for good. The score came after Chance Fuller fumbled while being hit on a pass on third down the possession prior.

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Redshirt freshman Te’Corey Tutson’s one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter pushed the Tigers lead to nine at 30-21. A sack on third down forced the Mules to punt but a fake kept the drive alive which led to a 65-yard scoring strike to Shae Wyattto pull within two with 5:25 to play.

The Tigers raced out to an early 13-0 lead. Layne Bieberle hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Chance Fuller on the Tigers first possession. Dante Brown then connected on field goals from 20 and 51. He later added a 36-yarder to make it 16-7 which was the score at halftime.

Both teams scored on their first two possessions of the second half.

Chance Fuller completed 27-of-42 passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns. Layne Beiberle hauled in four passes for 99 yards and a score. Charles Tigner had eight receptions and led the Tigers ground game with 65 yards.

The Mules, who finished with 516 yards of total offense, was led on the ground by Koby Wilkerson’s 103 yards. Bolles completed 14 of 26 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns