Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Football program fell in its home opener to Texas College by a final score of 26-15 Saturday night at Davis Field.
The Eagles were trailing early in the first quarter, as the Steers found the endzone on their first drive of the game via a 35-yard touchdown reception. Central's Isaiah Forbes blocked the extra point attempt to make the score 6-0 in favor of Texas College.
The next scoring play came early in the second, as TC broke through Central's secondary for a 57-yard passing touchdown. A two-point conversion pushed the Steers' lead to 14-0.
CMU continued to struggle on offense and Texas College was driving in the closing minutes of the half. With under three minutes to go in the second quarter, junior defensive back Joseph Daniels picked off an errant Steers' throw at the CMU 16, returning the ball near midfield. Central and TC went scoreless on their final drives of the half, as Texas College held the 14-0 advantage going into the locker room break.
The Eagles were intercepted on their opening drive of the third quarter, with the following drive for TC resulting in a 16-yard touchdown reception. With a failed two-point conversion, Texas College now led Central 20-0 at the 11:56 mark of the third.
TC's final touchdown came on the first drive of the fourth, scoring on a 69-yard touchdown pass.
CMU's offense found traction midway through the fourth quarter, capitalizing on an eight-play, 72-yard scoring drive. The drive was capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Gile to Chase Rankin. A botched snap on the extra point put kicker Oscar Simon in position to run into the endzone for the two-point play, which he converted.
Central's final drive came in the closing minutes of the game, as the Eagles went 90 yards in just 2:18. The 11-play drive concluded when Gile found Tristan Boyce from six yards out for the score. The extra point made the final score 26-15 in favor of Texas College.
Gile finished the game completing 23 passes for 232 total yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fayette native Garren Vroman carried the ball 14 times for 39 yards. Rankin led the receiving core with three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. Boyce followed with four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Dylan Holt led the defense with six tackles and one pass breakup. Y'Marius Joshlin had a stellar showing on defense, finishing the evening with five tackles, including three sacks.
Matthew Higginbotham and Devin Watson each tallied five tackles, and Jaylon Williamson broke up four passes.
As a team, Central generated 247 yards of offense compared to 313 for Texas College. CMU also won the possession battle, holding the ball for 34:29. But the Eagles committed three turnovers in the 11-point loss.
Central hits the road to face Peru State College on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Peru, Neb.
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