Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Football program fell to Missouri Valley College by a score of 41-31 Saturday afternoon on Homecoming weekend.
The Eagles fall to 1-8 and 0-3 in Heart South Division play, while the Vikings improve to 5-3 and 2-1 in conference action.
Following a fumble by the Eagles on their opening drive of the game, Missouri Valley drove 68 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass for MVC to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Central responded on their following drive with a seven-play 75-yard drive. Senior quarterback Joe Cambridge scrambled from five yards out to find the endzone and tie the game at 7-7.
The Vikings regained the lead on another touchdown pass to take a 14-7 lead. Junior kicker Oscar Simon converted a 37-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14-10.
MVC's next drive featured a broken play that saw the ball snapped over the quarterback's head into their own endzone. But the Vikings' QB scooped the ball up and found an open receiver who broke loose for an 83 yard touchdown, extdending the Vikings lead to 20-10 at the 9:57 mark of the second quarter.
The next two possessions were stalled drives for both teams. Central's defense held Missouri Valley inside their own 20-yard line on a punt which reached midfield. Chase Rankin return the ball for 13 yards to the Vikiings' 37-yard line to give the Eagles' offense excellent field position.
Central drove the 37 yards in six plays, capping the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass from Cambridge to Rankin. The extra point conversion by Simon put CMU just three points behind.
The Eagles' defense stood tall to close the half, as an interception by Nyjahl Vaughn stalled the Vikings final drive of the half at midfield. Central's offense was unable to add anymore points to close the half, as CMU trailed the Vikings 20-17 at the break.
Coming out of halftime, the Vikings scored two touchdowns on their first three possessions of the third quarter to extend their lead to 34-17. Central was held scoreless in the third, while MVC added one more touchdown in the opening minute of the fourth to push their lead to 41-17.
CMU's offense broke through midway through the fourth, as Cambridge found tight end Quinn Whitley on a 30-yard touchdown pass to cut the defecit to 41-24.
Central's final score of the game came on another touchdown pass, this time from Cambridge to Arron Edwards with less than two minutes remaining.
However, CMU ran out of time, as the Vikings went on to earn the 41-31 victory.
Cambridge finished the day completing 29-of-44 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns. Two Eagle wide receivers reached the century mark, as Whitley hauled in seven catches for 124 yards and one touchdown. Dudley followed with six receptions for 109 yards.
Altogether, Central generated more than 400 yards of offense.
On the defensive side, Lontas Mcclinton recorded eight total tackles, including three tackles for loss and one pass breakup. Vaughn finished the afternoon with two interceptions to lead the Eagles' secondary.
Central remains at home to host No. 25 Baker University Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Davis Field on Senior Day.
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