The Culver-Stockton College football team fell behind 24-0 in the first 16 minutes of the game and never recovered in suffering a 47-28 loss to 15th-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan., Saturday night.

The Pioneers scored on the initial drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead. Then a fumble on the Wildcats' first offensive play led to a MNU field goal before the Pioneers returned a punt on the ensuing possession to the C-SC two-yard line before scoring again to account for a 17-0 lead.

After MNU scored early in the second quarter to make it 24-0, the Wildcats settled down and got a pair of Kyle Dixon touchdown receptions to cut the lead to 24-14. Dixon's receptions from quarterback Liam Thornton covered 17 and 59 yards.

A late field goal just before halftime gave the Pioneers a 27-14 advantage at the intermission.

The Wildcats pulled to within 27-20 on their opening drive of the second half when Sharon Coleman culminated a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run.

MNU followed with two more field goals to extend its lead to 33-21 after three quarters, and then added a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to increase the deficit to 40-21.

Tahj Washington recorded a six-yard touchdown run for the Wildcats to bring C-SC to within 12 points midway through the final quarter; however, MNU sealed the victory with a final touchdown to account for the final score.

Dixon finished the day with four receptions for 132 yards and two scores. He averaged 33 yards per reception. Jaqorian Wiggles added three catches for 57 yards. Thornton ended the night 10 -for-26 for 214 yards and one interceptions.

The Wildcats only ran 48 offensive plays in the game compared to 79 by the Pioneers. MNU had a time of possession advantage of 41:25 to 18:35.

C-SC managed 297 total yards on offense while allowing 500 yards on defense. The C-SC committed two turnovers while the Wildcat defense forced one miscue, an interception by Akendre Matthews.

C-SC (1-1) is back on the road next Saturday night when it travels to Fulton, Mo., to battle William Woods University for the first meeting between the two schools. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.