Late interceptions ruin Wildcats’ opportunity to snare division crown

DES MOINES, Iowa — The historic season the Culver-Stockton College football program is in the midst of will wind up lacking a significant accomplishment.

There won’t be a division championship to celebrate.

Two late interceptions cost the 22nd-ranked Wildcats the chance to capture the slobberknocker Saturday’s Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division championship game turned into as fourth-ranked Grand View squeezed out a 9-6 victory at Duke Williams Stadium.

In a game that didn’t feature a single touchdown, the Wildcats trailed 9-3 at halftime and cut the deficit in half when Michael Velasco drilled a 41-yard field goal to cap the initial possession of the second half with 10:31 remaining in the third quarter.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Wildcats again drove into Vikings’ territory before the drive stalled at the 27-yard line and Velasco missed a 43-yard field goal that would have tied the game. The teams traded possessions until C-SC took over at its 49-yard line with 3:07 remaining in regulation.

Jordan Grant’s 4-yard run on third and 1 got the ball to the Vikings’ 38-yard line, but on the next play, Wildcats quarterback Cody Thorne was intercepted at the 20-yard line with 1:58 to play.

Grand View went three-and-out on a possession that burned just 24 seconds, and after the punt, C-SC took over at its own 39-yard line with 1:34 to play. After back-to-back sacks, Thorne was intercepted on third and 15 with 37 seconds to play. Grand View then ran out the clock.

Thorne completed 11 of 25 passes for 175 yards with two interceptions and was sacked four times. Mateen Johnson and Connor Perrine each caught four passes, while Grant finished with just 29 yards rushing on 19 carries. C-SC had only 27 total yards rushing.