A third-quarter rally wasn’t enough as Central Methodist fell to No. 18 Benedictine College, 59-21, to open Heart South Division play Saturday afternoon at home on Davis Field.

Central is now 1-6, having lost its last five games. Saturday’s game was the second against a ranked team in the last three weeks. 

Benedictine’s offense came out hot, scoring a touchdown on its first four possessions of the game to take an early 28-0 lead.

Central found the endzone on its third possession of the second quarter. After starting with excellent field position in Raven’s territory, the Eagles drove 45 yards in just three plays to score their first touchdown of the game. Senior quarterback Joe Cambridge found AJ Allen for a 14-yard passing touchdown to put Central on the board. 

Benedictine added one more score before halftime to take a 35-7 lead at the break.

Halftime adjustments paid off for Central in the third quarter. Benedictine’s opening drive of the second half was cut short by an interception in the endzone by defensive back Nyjahl Vaughn. CMU’s offensive then drove 80 yards in eight plays in just under three minutes, capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass from Cambridge to Fayette native Zane Rice. The rally cut the Ravens’ lead to 35-14.

Central’s defense came up big again on BC’s next drive. A pass from Raven’s quarterback Kaden Austin was intercepted by Omarion Slaw, who then returned the ball 39 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 35-21 midway through the third quarter. 

BC answered with back-to-back touchdowns to extend its lead to 49-21 at the end of the third quarter and all but secure the win. The Ravens added 10 more points in the final quarter to finish off the game with a 59-21 win.

Cambridge completed 17 of 31 passing attempts for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Allen hauled in four catches for 82 yards, while Quinn Whitley recorded four receptions for 58 yards.

Rice, a junior playing tight end, had one catch for five yards and the Eagles’ first touchdown of the second half.

Joseph Slattery and Sincere Hall-Osbourne led the defense with eight tackles each. In addition to Omarion Slaw’s pick-six, Nyjahl Vaughn also recorded an interception in the endzone to stall Benedictine’s opening drive of the third quarter.

CMU hits the road Saturday for a 2 p.m. again at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. The 5-2 Pioneers have won five of their last six games. They fell hard at Baker University 40-7 last week.

The Eagles return home to host rival Missouri Valley College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, for the 2023 Homecoming game.