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Central football wins Heart South advances to NAIA playoffs

Kevin Oeth, Sports Editor
Posted 11/17/21

The No. 22 Central Methodist football program claimed its first outright Heart South Division Title since 1975, defeating Evangel University 17-7 in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon in …

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Central football wins Heart South advances to NAIA playoffs

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The No. 22 Central Methodist football program claimed its first outright Heart South Division Title since 1975, defeating Evangel University 17-7 in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon in Nixa, Missouri.

Central finishes the regular season with a 9-2 overall mark and a perfect 5-0 record in Heart South. The win puts Central in the NAIA playoffs for the first time in school history. This season marks only the second time in program history that CMU has won nine games, with the last nine-win season coming in 1930 (9-0).

CMU struck first on Saturday with a 16-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Paxton DeLaurent to senior Katavious Taylor just before halftime to take a 7-0 lead.

Central added to its lead at the 11:29 mark in the third quarter as senior  Roberto Palacios scored on an 11-yard TD pass from DeLaurent to push the lead to 14-0. 

 

Evangel trimmed the lead to seven with 11:57 to go in the fourth quarter on a 16-yard touchdown pass.

Senior Samuel Petrin put the game out of reach, as the Bunnell, Fla. native connected on a 40-yard field goal with seven minutes to go in the game, to extend Central’s lead to 17-7. That proved to be the final score as CMU went on to earn their ninth victory of the year.

DeLaurent threw for 94 yards with two touchdowns. He also led the rushing attack with 93 yards on 13 carries. Senior running back Armand Keely carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

Senior wide receiver Kooper Wilson led the receiving core with four catches for 46 yards. 

Seniors Anthony Hernandez and London Chambers led the CMU defense with eight tackles, while seniors Khari Henley and Darian Bell both recorded interceptions. Juniors Le’Marcus Washington and Mujahid Camel each recorded a sack.

The win secured Central’s first outright Heart South Division title for the Eagles. In addition, for the first time in program history, the Central Methodist football program will compete in the NAIA-FCS playoffs, as the Eagles earned the No. 13 seed in this year’s draw.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) revealed the 16-team National Championship qualifying field Sunday evening. Central will travel to Orange City, Iowa on Saturday to face the No. 4 seeded Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raiders. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. 

CMU is one of two teams from the Heart to earn a bid into this year’s dance, as Heart North Division Champion Grand View earned the No. 3 overall seed. Central fell to Grand View 37-10 on the road in the season opener on August 28.

CMU concludes regular season play at No. 16 in the final NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 poll, the highest-ever ranking in school history.

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