THORNTON FIVE TIMES; Wildcats Power Past Eagles 60–43

Canton, MO – The Wildcats bounced back after their Homecoming loss by hosting the Central Methodist Eagles in a cross-division match on Saturday, the 1st. The Cats delivered a strong second-half performance, leading them to a 60-43 victory over the Eagles.

The Wildcats received the ball first and gained 19 yards before being forced to punt. However, a muffed punt granted the Wildcats a new set of downs at the Eagles’ 28-yard line. Quarterback Liam Thornton connected with Kyle Dixon for a 9-yard touchdown pass, putting the Wildcats on the scoreboard first, followed by a successful extra point.

In the first half, the Wildcats scored a total of 30 points, which included a remarkable 58-yard pick-six by Kaden Thomas. The Eagles responded strongly, scoring 29 points and even holding the lead at one point. The Wildcats then executed a 71-yard drive over nine plays, culminating in a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Liam Thornton. Coach Sallay commented on the first-half performance: “We didn’t play as well as I wanted on defense in the first half, but the offense stepped up and managed to score right before halftime, which was huge momentum for us going into the break.”

Kaden Thomas running the interception back for a touch down

The second half saw a shift in momentum, as the Wildcats added another 30 points while holding the Eagles to just 14. The Eagles went scoreless in the third quarter, with the Wildcats securing two interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Azaan Tabari in the fourth quarter. Coach Sallay remarked on the defense’s performance: “We can’t miss our chances, and we created opportunities in the second half. We capitalized on them, whether our offense scored or the defense scored on their own, which is really nice.”

Liam Thornton (on the ground) after diving for a rushing touchdown

Liam Thornton threw for an impressive 368 yards, connecting with Kyle Dixon for three touchdowns. Dixon received 11 passes for a school-record 236 yards. Jason Davenport (JD) and Jaqorian Wiggles combined for nine receptions and 132 yards. “It’s unbelievable,” said Sallay about his receivers’ performance. “JD made an incredible catch, Kyle had an amazing day, and Wiggles was outstanding. We have an embarrassment of riches right now, and it’s fun to have those guys around.” Liam Thornton also rushed for two touchdowns, totaling 66 yards on the ground, while Nicholas Jarrett added 106 rushing yards and one touchdown.

With this victory, the Wildcats improved to 5-4 overall. Next week, they will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to face the #1 Grand View Vikings, who sit atop the National Rankings and are undefeated this season. “We’re going to have to play really, really well—almost perfectly,” Sallay commented about the upcoming opponent. “They are unbelievably good, but I’m looking forward to the challenge our team faces and the opportunity they will have.”