WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Missouri took advantage of a handful of big plays and outscored No. 11 Fort Hays State 27-14 in the second half as they rallied for a 34-30 win in the season opener for both Thursday night at Walton Stadium.

The Tigers jumped out to a 13-0 first half lead but he Mules scored on two long touchdowns in the final 5:35, the last coming after a Chance Fuller fumble on a pass attempt.

Layne Bieberle, who led FHSU with 99 receiving yards on four catches, hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass on the first possession of the game.

Following a UCM fumble on their first possession, the Tigesrs drove to the Mules three yard line but had to settle for a 20-yard Dante Brown field goal. Brown would hit a career-best 51-yarder early in the second quarter to put the Tigers up 13-0.

UCM scored on a 66-yard run from Coby Wilkerson after he broke several tackles in the backfield on third and short.

Brown’s third field goal of the game from 36-yards out gave the Tigers a 16-7 lead at halftime.

Both teams scored on their first two possession of the second half and the Tigers appeared poised to put the game away after a sack on third down midway through the fourth but a fake punt set up a 65-yard touchdown pass from Brook Bolles to Shea Wyatt with 5:35 to play to cut the Tigers lead to 30-28.

Fuller, who completed 27 of 42 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, was hit while attempting to pass on the Tigers next possession and was ruled a fumble giving the Mules the ball at their own 45 yard line. Three plays later, Bolles hit Cameron Saunders for the game winner.

FHSU had four straight incomplete passes on their last possession, the last two batted down at the line of scrimmage.

Thanks to the big plays, Central Missouri finished with 516 yards of total offense.