The Central Methodist University football team rolled up 393 yards of total offense and the Eagle defense had three interceptions while holding Culver-Stockton College to just 94 yards of offense as Central Methodist earned a 42-5 win over the Wildcats Saturday evening.

Central Methodist dominated both sides of the ball throughout the game to cruise to the win. The Eagle offense scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game. Meanwhile, the CMU defense came up with three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. The Eagle defense also finished with 14.5 tackles for loss, including six sacks in the game.

After a 27-yard kickoff return by sophomore Travis Mosby (Lee's Summit, Mo.) and a facemask penalty by Culver-Stockton, Central Methodist started its first possession of the game at the Wildcats' 43-yard line. It took just five plays for CMU to get into the end zone on a 21-yard run by junior Burton Iosefa (San Jose, Calif.). The PAT by freshman Ezequiel Rivera (Corona, Calif.) gave CMU a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

The CMU defense forced Culver-Stockton to punt on its first possession, but a running into the kicker penalty kept the drive alive for the Wildcats. The Eagle defense forced another punt, but senior Travis McDowell (Greenfield, Mo.) tackled the punter after a bad snap to give the ball back to CMU at the 50-yard line. On CMU's next play, Iosefa made a couple strong cuts to elude several Culver-Stockton defenders on his way to his second touchdown on just his second rushing attempt of the night. Rivera's PAT was good to extend CMU's lead to 14-0.

Central Methodist made it 21-0 on its next possession when junior Bryant Jackson (Lee's Summit, Mo.) connected with senior Brandon Winters (Festus, Mo.) on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 12:19 left in the third quarter. Rivera's PAT made it 21-0.

Culver-Stockton had a 47-yard kickoff return to put the Wildcats in CMU territory to start their next possession. The Wildcats drove to CMU's 21-yard line before settling for a 38-yard field goal to end the shutout and cut the CMU lead to 21-3. After CMU turned the ball over on downs, Culver-Stockton drove into CMU territory again before McDowell tackled the Wildcat running back for a 3-yard loss. Culver-Stockton threw an incomplete pass, and on 3rd-and-13 junior Trevor Robinson (Visalia, Calif.) and senior Matt Fraley (St. Robert, Mo.) combined for a 7-yard sack to force a C-SC punt, which was downed inside the CMU 1-yard line.

Playing with their backs against their own end zone, the CMU offense had trouble with the snap and Culver-Stockton was able to make the tackle for a safety, cutting CMU's lead to 21-5 with 2:29 left in the first half.

After the CMU defense forced another Wildcat punt, it took just two plays for Jackson to connect with Mosby on a 79-yard screen pass for a touchdown. The PAT by Rivera extended CMU's lead to 28-5 with 38.3 seconds left in the first half.

Central Methodist's defense continued to dominate in the second half, and senior Tyler Belt (Macon, Mo.) came up with his fourth career interception to end Culver-Stockton's opening drive of the third quarter. Two offensive plays later, Jackson connected with Mosby again for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Rivera's PAT put CMU ahead 35-5 with 11:59 left in the third quarter.

On Culver-Stockton's ensuing possession, junior Bryan Plenge (Kahoka, Mo.) intercepted a third-down pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown. Rivera made the PAT to make the score 42-5 in favor of the Eagles.

After both teams were forced to punt on back-to-back possessions, Culver-Stockton drove the ball deep into CMU territory. On first down from the Eagles' 16-yard line, McDowell grabbed his team-best third interception of the season, picking off the pass in the end zone for a touchback. CMU had one more solid drive in the game, but came up just shy of the end zone on fourth-and-goal.

Offensively for CMU, Iosefa finished with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns on five carries. Iosefa also had an eight-yard reception to finish with 112 yards of total offense. Jackson finished 6-of-10 passing for 160 yards and three touchdowns, to go with his 12 yards of rushing. Mosby caught three passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while also finishing the 98 yards on three punt returns and two kickoff returns.

Senior Tim Cummins (Chicago, Ill.) recorded nine tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, to lead CMU defensively. Robinson finished with seven tackles, including team-highs of four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Plenge also finished with seven tackles and a pass breakup, to go with his interception return for a touchdown, while Fraley added five tackles for the Eagles.

Central Methodist improved to 2-2 on the season with the win, while Culver-Stockton dropped to 1-3. The Eagles will enjoy a bye week next week before returning home to face Benedictine College on Oct. 8 for homecoming. Kickoff against the Ravens is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Davis Field.