A cell phone and the Internet keep Ghaali Muhammad connected to his St. Joseph roots while he pursues a football career at the University of Wyoming.

After the 2009 Central graduate recorded a “Sportscenter”-worthy highlight this past weekend, both tools of technology provided him with plenty of hometown adulation. Muhammad recorded Wyoming’s lone touchdown in a 41-10 loss to No. 2 Texas last week, scooping up a blocked punt and returning it 6 yards for a score.

“I had people from back home calling me every 5 seconds,” said Muhammad, the 2008 News-Press offensive player of the year. “I got back to my cell phone and probably had 50 missed calls. I had people Facebooking me and congratulating me. It was crazy.”

Seeing action on special teams and as a defensive back in nickel sets, Muhammad made one tackle in the Cowboys’ season-opening win against Weber State.

That experience couldn’t prepare him for a second-week clash against a Big 12 opponent ranked No. 2 in the nation. Playing in front of a home crowd, fellow freshman Luke Ruff blocked Texas’ punt late in the second quarter and Muhammad went into the end zone after being tripped up at the last second.

The score gave

Wyoming a brief 10-6 lead only to see the Longhorns score the game’s final 35 points. Muhammad also recorded his second tackle in the loss.

Despite the disappointing results, Muhammad relived his first collegiate highlight multiple times.

“I was watching it all night,” he said. “Everyone was calling me, and I had it on ESPN all night.”

Muhammad said he enjoys the program and atmosphere at Wyoming and hopes to help the Cowboys earn a bowl game berth.

Only months removed from St. Joseph, Muhammad already has an amazing amount of football memories. A kind much different than he made while playing at Central.

“It’s just exciting for me to be out there — the crowd noise, playing in front of all those people — it’s a lot different. I love it,” Muhammad said. “It was just an overwhelming experience to score a touchdown in my second game as a true freshman against Texas, the No. 2 team in the nation.”

Time to show

While Chillicothe faced last-place Bishop LeBlond on Thursday night, the other three MEC matchups this week should help define the eight-team league’s landscape.

Tonight’s schedule provides the first full slate of conference games with Benton traveling to unbeaten Cameron, Savannah hosting Lafayette and Smithville traveling to Maryville. All six of those teams sport a winning record.

Through three weeks, Maryville (2-1) sits atop the conference table at 2-0, but Chillicothe opened Thursday, and Savannah, Cameron and Smithville have all yet to play an MEC contest.

Lafayette and Benton are each 1-1, while LeBlond is 0-3.

Making a memory

The outcome long decided, Benton and Maryville’s freshmen coaches agreed to provide a memorable moment for Matt Ziesel.

The son of Benton activities director Mike Ziesel, Matt suits up for Benton’s freshman football team. He has Down’s syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that inhibits cognitive development in the brain.

Benton coach Dan McCamy decided to insert Ziesel into Monday night’s game after conferring with Maryville coach Jordan Moree, who instructed his players to allow Ziesel to score a meaningless touchdown in terms of the final score.

But in memorable standings, the score meant a lot.

Freshman quarterback Beau Steele took a shotgun snap and handed the ball to Ziesel, wearing No. 45. He carried around right end and sprinted 63 yards into the end zone.

McCamy uploaded video of the play to youtube.com where it has received well more than 1,000 views. The video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ylwXOxKb7I.