Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Football program concluded the 2025 season with a victory over Missouri Valley College Saturday afternoon at Davis Field on Senior Day.
The Eagles honored their senior class prior to kickoff.
Central defeated the Vikings by a final score of 34-21, endind the season with a 3-8 overall record and a 2-4 mark in Heart South Division play. Missouri Valley finishes 3-7 and 0-6 in conference play.
CMU's offense exploded for 21 points in the first quarter, beginning with a five-play 47-yard scoring drive on their opening possession of the game. Central utilized a short field to score on a 13-yard touchdown run from senior running back Dawan Lomax. The Eagles needed just 1:43 to get on the scoreboard.
The Eagles' defense forced a fumble on the Vikings' first play of their next drive, as Ashton Fowler punched the ball out which was ultimately recovered by Matthew Higginbotham at the Viking 33-yard line.
With another short field, Central needed just one play to find the endzone, as quarterback AJ Donovan connected with senior Max Thomas for a 33-yard touchdown pass. The scored extended CMU's lead to 14-0 at the 11:10 mark of the first quarter.
MVC would eventually get on the scoreboard on their next possession with a 30-plus yard touchdown pass of their own, cutting the Eagles' lead to 14-7.
Central's offense would stall on its next drive, but got another lift from the defense. On a third down and eight, lineman Joshua Davis recorded one of his three sacks against the Vikings on the day to drive MVC back to their own 20 yard line, forcing a three-and-out.
Missouri Valley would punt to the Eagles, getting the ball at their own 40-yard line. Central's offense drove 60 yards in nine plays, capping the 3:54 drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Donovan to Elijah Owens.
Trailing 21-7, MVC responded on their next drive with a 72-yard scramble from its backup quarterback that reached the endzone for the score. As a result, CMU would hold a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Central's defense continued to pressure MVC, as a sack from Treyvion Hourel Jr. and a tackle for loss from Robert Tyree Jackson pinned MVC inside their own 10-yard line.
The Vikings would ultimately have to punt the ball. The ensuing punt was muffed by the Vikings and only went 22 yards, giving CMU excellent field position at the MVC 28 yard line.
Cenral ran the ball three-straight times, as Jamar Nuby ultimately found the endzone from 11 yards out for the scoring and extending the lead to 28-14.
Missouri Valley answered right back with a touchdown of their own on the next possession to cut Central's lead to 28-21, which would ultimately be the score at the halftime break.
Cristobal Salgado tacked on a 36-yard field goal attempt at the 6:25 mark of the third quarter, extending their lead to 31-21.
CMU's defense held the Vikings off the scoreboard for the duration of the third quarter, and started the fourth quarter with a blocked field goal attempt. Reigning Heart Special Teams Player of the Week Caleb Justice secured his second-straight field goal block, which was then recovered by Malakhi Edwards.
That led to another field goal conversion from Salgado, which put Central out in front 34-21 and ultimately put the game out of reach.
The Eagles' defense was the story of the day, as Central tallied seven sacks and two forced fumbles. Davis led the effort with three sacks, while Treyvion Hourel Jr., Justice, Robert Tyree Jackson, and Braylon Hawkins each recorded sacks as well.
Both Ashton Fowler and Justice forced fumbles during the game.
Donovan completed 11 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
Nuby led the running core with 22 carrries for 100 yards and a touchdown. Lomax carried the ball 20 times for 99 yards and a rushing touchdown in his final game in a CMU uniform. Altogether, Central's ground attack tallied nearly 200 yards of offense.
Salgado converted two of three field goal attempts in the win.
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