Box Score The William Jewell Cardinal football team allowed over 700 yards of offense in a 65-49 Great Lakes Valley Conference home loss to St. Joseph's College on Saturday afternoon.

The Puma's improved to 4-4 after picking up its first road win since August, 30 while the Cardinals fell to 2-6.   

Jewell and St. Joseph's combined for 1,160 yards of offense, including 853 through the air. we

The Cardinals allowed 29 first downs in the game and also earned 23 first downs.

Puma quarterback Billy VandeMerkt threw for 449 yards completing 24 of 31 passes and 9 touchdowns.  He also ran for 104 yards and helped contribute to over 287 total yards rushing for St. Joseph. 

First-year running back Thomas Cook of William Jewell had a breakout performance rushing for 227 yards on 22 attempts and two touchdowns.  He also had an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter. 

The game started off on the Cardinals side as the Puma's fumbled the opening kickoff and the Cards took over at the Puma 28 yard line.  Jewell was unable to move the ball buy Warren Frevert was good on a 35-yard field goal to put Jewell up 3-0. 

St. Joseph's then began their offensive assault.  The Puma's went on a 10 play 75 yard drive capped off by a 25 yard touchdown.  The Pumas would then go on to score a touchdown on four of their next seven possessions and scored a field goal on their last possession on the half. 

The Cards scored only two more times before halftime highlighted by Cook's seven yard run and Frevert nailed a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.  The Pumas took with them a 38-15 lead at the half. 

The Cards came out of the locker room fired up as Jewell quarterback Sean Shelton was able to hook with Quentin Riser for an eight yard strike to close the gap to 38-22.  The Cards were then able to force a punt from the Pumas and Cook electrified the crowd with an 86-yard punt return that put the Cards within striking distance 38-28 as the point after attempt banged off the crossbar. 

After Jewell gave up another Puma score, Cook again provided a spark with a 45 yard touchdown run.  The Cards then gave up two back to back scoring drives to the Pumas to fall behind 58-35.

Shelton, then found Scott Buffa for a 22 yard touchdown and after yet another Puma score Shelton found the end zone on a quarterback keeper from four yards out which provided the 65-49 final. 

Cook finished the day with 227 yards rushing and 19 yards receiving.  Shelton finished the day 22-37 for 204 yards and two touchdowns.  Riser finshed with 8 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. 

Eric Jackson paced the Cardinal defense with 8 tackles and Tyler Owen had Jewell's only sack on the afternoon. 

William Jewell will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, October 27 for a 6:00 p.m. (EST) GLVC contest against University of Indianapolis.