Fayette, Mo. - In a game that featured more than two hours of lightning delays, the Central Methodist football team won a nail-biter over William Penn University by a score of 28-27 Saturday afternoon at Davis Field.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-2 overall, while the Statesmen fall to 1-5.
Central opened up the scoring midway through the first quarter, as the Eagles drove 87 yards in eight plays. Central capped the drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Paxton DeLaurent to Trayvon Hards.
After a lengthy lightning delay at the 5:46 mark of the first quarter, the Statesmen came out of the locker room and matched CMU on the following possession with a scoring drive of their own. Both teams would end the first deadlocked at 7-7.
The Eagles offense continued to drive down the field early in the second quarter on 74 yards in 10 plays. DeLaurent put Central back out front with a two-yard touchdown rush on a quarterback keeper.
However, William Penn would respond with 14 unanswered points to take a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Both teams remained scoreless through the first 10 minutes of the third, but CMU broke the deadlock at the 5:43 mark, as DeLaurent found Koale Schroeder on a 37-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 21-21. William Penn quickly regained the lead with just seconds remaining in the quarter on a 53-yard touchdown run, but failed to convert the extra point.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the touchdown pinned the Statesmen's kickoff team at their own 20-yard line, giving Central excellent field position.
Returning the ball to their 44-yard line, the Eagles needed only two plays to find the endzone. After a seven-yard pass to get on the Statesmen's side of the field, DeLaurent fired his third touchdown pass of the day, once again to Schroeder from 49-yards out. Kicker Samuel Petrin would convert the extra point, giving CMU a narrow 28-27 lead.
Both sides were in a defensive stalemate the rest of the quarter. However, after CMU came up just short on a fourth down conversion looking to run the clock out, the Statesmen were in position to drive down the field for a game winning field goal.
William Penn managed to get to the Eagle's 21-yard line, and set up for a 38-yard field goal to go back out in front. The Eagles were ready on the snap of the ball, and bull rushed the line led by Joseph Slattery, who blocked the kick and sent Central home with its fourth win of 2021.
DeLaurent finished the afternoon leading CMU through both the air and ground attack. The sophomore completed 12 passes and racked up 258 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 73 yards on 14 attempts including a rushing TD.
Schroeder led the receivers with three catches for 92 yards including two touchdowns. Kooper Wilson followed with 58 yards receiving on four receptions.
Overall, Central finished the afternoon with 401 yards of total offense on 25:24 of total possession.
On the defensive side of the ball, London Chambers racked up 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Khari Henley followed with nine tackles while both Michael Mexicano and Will Miles each collected eight. Davion Stockard and Darian Bell also recorded a sack apiece.
The Eagles will next host Benedictine College Saturday, Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m. at Davis Field.
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