In what may have been the biggest victory in recent program history, Central Methodist football upset the No. 5 and six-time defending Heart South Division Champion Baker Wildcats 21-19 Saturday afternoon on Davis Field on senior day.

With the win, Central improves to 8-2 and 4-0 in the South Division, while the Wildcats fall to 8-2 and 3-1 in the Heart. The Eagles also claim at least a share of their first Heart South Division title since 1975 and earned their first win against Baker since the 2006 season. 

The eight wins this season are the most since 1949 (8-1), with the only other eight-plus win campaigns for Central coming in 1930 (9-0) and 1928 (8-2).

Central's defense was challenged early, as Baker drove 87 yards in eight plays, capped by an 11-yard rushing touchdown from Baker senior JD Woods, the NAIA’s all-time leader in career rushing yards and touchdowns. However, the extra point was missed and Baker only held a 6-0 lead. 

The next two possessions were controlled by the defense as both sides were forced to punt. On Central's second drive of the day, the Eagles fumbled the ball at midfield, giving the Wildcats excellent field position. The Wildcats marched to CMU’s one yard line and looked ready to score again. However, the Eagles’ interior line held Woods out of the end zone on fourth down, stalling Baker’s drive at the one. 

At the start of the second quarter and pinned deep in their own end zone on a third-down play, sophomore signal-caller Paxton DeLaurent found senior wide receiver Katavious Taylor on a 35-yard reception. The Eagles moved the ball down the field in 11 plays and capped the drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent to junior Koale Schroeder. 

Central would maintain a 7-6 lead over the Wildcats in the final minutes of the first half. Despite Baker looking primed to score on their final two possessions, the Eagles defense held, first on a forced fumble by senior defensive lineman Trevor Ganaway that was recovered by senior linebacker Anthony Hernandez inside Central’s 25. The second was a defensive stand from inside the 10-yard line, as Baker tried to score on the final play of the half. That stand allowed Central to go into the locker room with a 7-6 lead.

The Eagles’ first possession of the third quarter ended with a 44-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent to senior wide receiver Kooper Wilson, pushing their lead to 14-6. Baker would trim the lead to two on a 66-yard touchdown run late in the quarter, as the Wildcats attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game. The conversion failed as the quarterback’s pass fell incomplete leaving the Eagles with a 14-12 lead. 

On the ensuing possession, Central looked to stretch their lead before a fumble on a trick play fell into the hands of the Wildcats’ defense. However, the Eagle’' defense stood to the task once again and forced a Baker punt. 

DeLaurent found Taylor on the following possession via an 11-yard touchdown pass with 8:53 to go in the game. Central now held a 21-12 lead. 

Baker trimmed the deficit to two on a five-yard touchdown run with under four minutes to go. Leading 21-19, CMU recovered the onside kick and was able to use a strong rushing attack in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

Despite giving up more than 500-yards of offense, the CMU defense held the Wildcats to a 46 percent conversion rate on third down and just 33 percent on fourth down. The Eagles also forced a fumble. 

Senior linebacker London Chambers led the defense with nine tackles including one for loss and a pass breakup, while classmate Will Miles recorded the lone sack of the day for CMU and Ganaway forced a fumble on the one-yard line to keep Baker out of the end zone.

DeLaurent finished the afternoon completing 18 of 31 passes for 308 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also led the rushing attack with 49 yards on 14 carries. Senior running back Terrell Aldridge carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards, highlighted by running out the clock in the closing minutes of the game.

Taylor recorded seven catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. Wilson and Schroeder each picked up a touchdown reception as well.

The Eagles will battle Evangel University in the regular-season finale at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Nixa High School. Central will claim the Heart South Division title outright and secure an automatic berth into the NAIA Playoffs with a victory.