Box Score
Coming off of two straight victories, The William Jewell football team returned to Norris Patterson Field for the Homecoming game against Central State University out of Wilberforce, Ohio.

In the matchup of Great Lakes Valley Conference rivals, the Cardinals battled with a potent running game and a duel threat quarter back from Central State but would continually make strong stands in the red zone to keep the game close all the way until the end.

After getting off to a slow start, giving up 10 unanswered points to begin the game, the offense started to get their rhythm midway through the second quarter.  Capping off a nine play, 75 yard drive, quarterback Sean Shelton connected with wide receiver Caden Compton on a 14 yard touchdown pass to pull the Cardinals within three points and make the score 10-7 in favor of the Central State Marauders.

After a long drive by Central State, junior cornerback Jack Bissonnette made the defensive play of the game intercepting the Marauders quarterback at the one yard line, saving a touchdown and returning it 64 yards to give the Cardinals possession on the opposing team's 35 yard line.

Two minutes later, after a quick drive,  Shelton took the ball himself for a two yard touchdown run to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game, making the score 14-10 to end the first half.

After a special Homecoming halftime that inducted yet another group of Jewell Alumnus into the William Jewell Athletic Hall of Fame, both defenses continued to play strong not allowing a score until 4:42 in the third quarter when Central State scored on a 19 yard pass, their longest scoring play of the game.

After going back down 17-14, William Jewell came storming back. With just under two minutes left in the third quarter, Shelton connected on the longest play of the game for the Cardinals and found senior wide receiver Jon Molzen for a 53 yard pass.

This would lead to a passing touchdown sophomore wide receiver Quentin Riser caught a 10 yard pass from Shelton to put William Jewell back up by the score of 21-17 at the end of the third quarter.
 
The lead  was short lived, as Central State quarterback  Michael Wilson would tear off a 55 yard run that would lead to a four yard touchdown run to put the Marauders up 23-21, which would turn out to be the final score, giving William Jewell their first home loss of the season.

The Cardinal's offensive leaders were Sean Shelton and Jon Molzen. Shelton completed 67 percent of his passes, going 23 for 34 for 264 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also ran for 85 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. Jon Molzen caught 13 passes for 188 yards which led all receivers in the contest.

William Jewell's defensive leaders were Jack Bissonnette and Jimmy DeStafano. Jack Bissonnette ended the game with five solo tackles and the only interception of the game. Linebacker Jimmy DeStafano had a total of nine tackles, 5 unassisted.

With a record of 2-3, the Cardinals will go on the road to Lebanon, Ill., to play the MeKendree University Bearcats of the GLVC. The game will be played Saturday, October 6 at 1:30pm on Leemon Field.