Central Methodist University head football coach Dave Brown said that while his young team is showing improvement, it’s not developing quite as fast as he had hoped. But his team is starting to come together, even amid a brutal second half of the season for the Eagles. Central lost to No. 2-ranked Grand View 42-7 at home Thursday night to drop to 0-7 on the season.

Four of CMU’s last five opponents are ranked among the NAIA’s top 25 teams, while Brown is working to rebuild a program that hit rock bottom two years ago. Now in his second year as the Eagles’ head coach, he is still searching for his first win of the season after winning just one game on the road a year ago.

After facing No. 20 Baker on Saturday, Brown and company return home for what could be their best chance at victory this season when they host first-year team William Woods on November 2 before a home crowd.

“We’re playing some really good teams coming up still,” Brown said.

“We’re making progress not as fast as we want, and not necessarily in ways that everybody’s going to see. One of the things I love about these guys the most is they show up and compete. And they don’t stop. They give effort and they compete every single day. I’ve been around teams in rough years where guys stop. Our guys did that this time last year. These guys aren’t doing that.”

Even with the Eagles trailing 42-0 late in Thursday’s game against Grand View, the team was not downtrodden. Instead, they cheered on their teammates every play, and burst with excitement when they recovered a red zone fumble on a kickoff.

Central had just scored its only touchdown of the night on a three-yard pass from Alvaro Ortega-Morales to Moses Ross. On the ensuing kickoff, Fayette native and CMU sophomore Ben Wells forced a Grand View fumble in front of the Eagles’ sideline, which was recovered by CMU’s Chase Rankin on the Vikings’ 16-yard line.

“That was awesome,” Brown said. “We haven’t been in that scenario yet. We’ve got to work on some things where when we get a sudden change on that half the field, we have to be really aggressive.”

Central was unable to score, ultimately turning the ball over on downs. But the excitement among the Eagle players was tangible.

“They’re starting to really come together as a team. That was something that was tough early in our season,” Brown said. “Now they’re really starting gel as a team. They’re getting behind each other. Everybody’s rallying around each other. That’s one of the first steps for a culture change in team building.”

After forcing Grand View to punt on its opening possession, the Eagles gave up just one touchdown in the first quarter, a 13-yard scoring pass on the Vikings’ second possession. But Grand View took control of the second quarter, rattling off 28 unanswered points to go up 35-0 at halftime.

“We had really one rough quarter. The second quarter killed us,” Brown said.

“You could see our youth and in experience in this game. And you could see our lack of size and strength. And I think we’ve got some young guys who are going to get stronger and build themselves into college football players over the next couple of years. We’re just not there yet. As long as they keep that competitiveness about them, and they keep that work ethic, good things are coming.”

Central allowed one touchdown in the third quarter and held Grand View scoreless in the fourth.

Defensively, the Eagles gave up 293 yards rushing and 198 yards in the air. Y’Marius Joshlin led the way with six tackles on the evening, while Joseph Daniels finished with five.

Central’s offensive line allowed just one sack of Ortega-Morales, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. After starting a handful of games this season while starter Jordan Gile was banged up, he was designated Central’s full-time starter two weeks ago after Gile suffered a season-ending injury.

Brown said knowing he was going to start, rather than just compete for a chance to play, changed his quarterback’s game preparation. 

“This was a really good game for him. He had a week and a half to prepare, knowing he’s going to be the starter. I think that allowed him to grow and see some things. And this game is going to help him as he continues to grow.”

Carl Robinson led the receiving corps, with three catches for 69 yards, followed by Tahj Wright, who snagged three balls for 33 yards.

For the second time this season, Central’s rushing game finished in the red, with -27 yards on the day. The run game has been a weak spot for the Eagles all season. Most of those lost yards were from when Ortega-Morales was being pursued behind the line of scrimmage. 

After picking up four yards on three snaps in the first half, junior running back and Fayette native Garren Vroman was once again sidelined with a knee injury. It was only his second game back after suffering an injury in the season opener, and a delivers a major blow to an already struggling rushing game.

It was unknown as of press time the extent of Vroman’s injury or whether he will suit up again this season.

The Eagles’ leading rushing this year, Dawan Lomax, a native of Boonville, was held to just two yards on seven attempts.

Central hopes to shore up its rushing game before going back on the road Saturday to face another ranked opponent, No. 20 Baker University, on Saturday. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. The Eagles return to Davis Field next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game against first-year program William Woods.