FAYETTE, Mo. - An estimated 600 Central Methodist fans were treated to a Green and White Spring Game filled with explosive plays on both sides of the ball. In the end, the White team held off a late charge by the Green squad for a 61-60 victory Saturday night at Davis Field in the controlled exhibition.
The Green team, comprised of Central Methodist offensive coaches and players, was led by running back Maurice Coon's 151 yards on 12 carries, including a 70-yard touchdown gallop on the final play of the first quarter.
The game was played without a running clock except in two minute drill situations. A modified scoring system was put in place with the offense receiving points for first downs, plays resulting in 20 or more yards gained, touchdowns, field goals and point-after-attempts. The defense was awarded points for fumbles, turnovers, sacks and forced punts.
The White team, made up of Eagles' defensive coaches and players, was able to halt a Green scoring attempt on the first series of the game. After quarterback Kaleb Borghardt completed a 45-yard pass to wide receiver Mitchell Cox that went to the 20-yard line, linebacker Nicholas Wiley stepped in front of a Borghardt pass over the middle for the first of the White's three interceptions on the day.
After three offensive possessions that yielded not a touchdown or field goal, Coon broke loose on the first play of the drive through the middle of the defense for the 70-yard scoring strike.
The White answered back on the next series. Safety Cole Thomure jumped a pass at the team's own 25-yard line and returned it 74 yards to the one. The White suffocated the Green for the rest of the half, forcing two turnover-on-downs and a punt. Linebacker Haylon Jacobs also picked Borghardt at the Green 39-yard line to end a series.
Borghardt found paydirt for the first time early in the third quarter. The Green mounted a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that started with a Coon 23-yard run and ended when Borghardt throwing a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cody Skinner.
Green found the endzone one final time on the last possession of the fourth quarter. Starting at the 25-yard line, running back Francois Matthews raced 61 yards on the first play down to the opposite 14. Four plays later, Matthews crossed the goal line from five yards out on fourth and one.
The Green team trailed 61-58 and converted a two-point attempt on a Borghardt middle screen to running back Reny Reis to bring the game within one point. However, coach Jody Ford decided both teams had played enough and ended the game, preserving a one-point triumph for his White unit.
Matthews ended the night with eight carries for 72 yards and a touchdown, as the Green totaled 287 yards on the ground on 45 rushes. Borghardt carried the ball 11 times for 31 yards. Wide receiver Mitchell Swan had two carries for 17 yards, including a long of 20. Running back J.J. Jackson recorded three rushes for 15 yards. Quarterback Jacob Jackson had eight rushes for six yards.
Wide receiver Kris Denton caught three passes for 15 yards. Swan hauled in three for 11 yards. Cox had one catch for 45 yards. Skinner pulled down one catch for two yards and a touchdown.
Borghardt was 6-of-22 through the air for 68 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Ja. Jackson was 3-of-9 for 4 yards and one pick. Skinner was 0-of-1. Each player was sacked once.
Linebacker Conner White led the White team with nine total tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss. Linebacker Luke Mayer came up with six total tackles. Defensive end Taylor Combs had three tackles, two sacks and one tackle for loss, as the White unit totaled nine Saturday. Defensive end Matt Pehle and defensive tackle Kameron Green each had one quarterback hurry. The defense also had eight different players post one pass breakup.
Saturday's game was played under night skies with temperatures in the upper 50s.
