The Central Methodist University football team scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game, and added a field goal early in the second quarter to earn a 10-0 win over Graceland University in rainy conditions at Davis Field Saturday night.
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After a 42-yard return on the opening kickoff by freshman Dominic Price (Columbia, Mo.), the CMU offense drove the ball 54 yards in eight plays, scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Bryant Jackson (Lee's Summit, Mo.) to junior Caleb Haynes (Higginsville, Mo.). The Eagle defense shut down Graceland's offense on the ensuing possession, forcing a punt, which was downed at the CMU 13-yard line. The Eagle offense fumbled on third down of the following possession, and the Yellowjackets recovered the ball, giving them first down at the CMU 2-yard line.
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Juniors Tyler Belt (Macon, Mo.) and Brett Fitchpatrick (Pierce City, Mo.) tackled the Graceland running back for a three-yard loss on first down, which he gained back on second down. On third-and-goal from the 2-yard line, freshman Conner White (Jefferson City, Mo.) tackled the GU ball carrier for a one-yard loss, forcing the Yellowjackets to kick a field game. The Graceland field-goal attempt sailed wide right as CMU held on to its 7-0 lead and regained possession at its own 20-yard line.
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The Eagles added to their lead early in the second quarter when senior Tyler Padgett (Jefferson City, Mo.) kicked a 39-yard field goal to make the score 10-0. CMU had another opportunity to add to its lead on its first possession of the second half, but Graceland intercepted a CMU pass in the end zone for a touchback. CMU also missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt that sailed just wide left late in the game. On Graceland's next play, junior Travis McDowell (Greenfield, Mo.) intercepted a pass near midfield and returned it to the GU 35-yard line. A block-in-the-back penalty during the interception return sent the ball back to the Graceland 46-yard line. CMU drove to the Graceland 12-yard line, but the drive stalled and the Eagles were unable to get another score in the closing seconds of the game.
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CMU finished with 311 yards of total offense in the game, including 203 yards on the ground. The Eagle defense held Graceland to just 32 yards of total offense in the game, including a 30-yard pass on the final play of the game. CMU held Graceland to -9 yards rushing and just three first downs in the contest. The Yellowjackets finished 0-for-10 on third-down conversions in the game. As a team, the Eagle defense had 11.5 tackles for losses for a total of 30 yards.
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Jackson finished 7-of-19 passing for 108 yards and the touchdown. Haynes had three catches for 34 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Sophomore Stephone Allen (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) finished with 136 yards rushing on 23 carries for the Eagles, while freshman Francois Mathews (Auburn Hills, Mich.) finished with 44 yards on eight carries.
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Defensively, senior Tony Hall (Shelbina, Mo.) and White finished with eight tackles each. Belt and sophomore Trevor Robinson (Visalia, Calif.) added six tackles apiece. Those four players combined for 7.5 tackles for losses for the Eagles.
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CMU improved to 2-2 overall and 2-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with the win. Graceland dropped to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the HAAC. The Eagles will be back in action Oct. 2 at William Jewell College. Kickoff is set for noon in Liberty, Mo.