FAYETTE, MO.---- The Central Methodist football team closed out the 2017 by defeating Avila University 20-17 on senior day.
NOTES
• Central Methodist finished the season 2-9 (1-4) as Avila University closed out its season 3-8 (1-4).
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Caleb Bedford (SR/Houston, Tex.) completed 14 of his 23 passes throwing for 141 yards, rushing for 94 yards off 14 carries, and added two touchdowns. He finished with 232 all-purpose yards.
• Tevin Reid (SR/Memphis, Tenn.) led the rushing attack with 56 yards off 16 carries with a touchdown.
• Garan Evans (JR/Cape Girardeau, Mo.) led Central Methodist receivers with four catches for 64 yards, and a touchdown.
• Darrius Henton (JR/Stockton, Calif.) led the Central Methodist defense with a season-high 25 tackles, 18 assisted, and seven solo tackles.
• Tristan Askan completed 23 of his 32 passes throwing for a total of 259 yards with two touchdowns.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• With 2:30 remaining in the first quarter, Central Methodist scored on a 26-yard pass from Bedford to Evans for an Eagles score.
• In the second quarter, Avila kicked a 29-yard field-goal from Nealy with the Eagles leading 6-3 heading into the half.
• On Central Methodist's opening drive in the third quarter, Reid scored on an 11-yard carry. The PAT from O'Connell was good to give the Eagles a 13-3 lead.
• Avila answered back on its next possession, scoring on a 24-yard pass from Askan to Dungee to cut the Eagle lead to three, 13-10.
• With 4:14 left in the 3rd quarter, Avila would take a 17-13 lead off a 19-yard pass from Askan to Berry with the successful PAT.
• Avila was driving down the field, and looked to extend its lead with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, a key interception from Elmore was returned 79 yards to put the Eagles in scoring position.
• Central Methodist regained the lead with 6:27 in the game as Bedford would score on a quarterback keeper at the one-yard line. The PAT from O'Connell was good to give the Eagles a 20-17 lead.
• Avila began to drive down the field once again, however a costly bad snap just outside the redzone was recovered by King to seal the 20-17 victory for the Eagles.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Central Methodist took control of the running game with 225 yards, holding Avila to 83.
• Avila led in passing with 297 yards, completing (24-of-35), and the Eagles finished with 161, completing 15 of their 25 passes.
• Both teams battled with all-purpose yards as Central Methodist tallied 386 yards, and Avila finished with 380.
