The Culver-Stockton football team scored 28 unanswered points in the first half and went on to spoil Clarke University's homecoming with a 28-21 victory at Dalzell Field in Dubuque, Iowa, Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats, who are now 3-1 on the road this season, improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference's North Division with the victory. Clarke falls to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the North.

After each team went three and out on their initial possessions of the game, Clarke University struck first with an 11-plat, 70 yard drive that culminated in a two-yard run to go ahead 7-0 with 9:07 to play in the first quarter.

C-SC answered on its next possession with a nine-play, 70 yard drive of its own that ended with quarterback Liam Thorton scampering in from seven yards out to tie the game just four minutes later.

The Wildcats forced another Pride punt and took over at their own 25-yard line late in the first quarter. C-SC matriculated the ball down the field and Tajh Washington scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns on a three-yard run to end an 11-play, 75 yard drive and give C-SC the lead for good at 14-7 with 13 minutes left in the first half.

On its next possession, Washington registered his second three-yard touchdown of the day and the ninth of the season that culminated a seven-play, 59 yard drive giving the visitors a 21-7 lead with 10:14 to play in the half.

The Wildcat defense forced a three and out on the ensuing possession and a poor punt by Clarke set C-SC up first-and-10 at its own 44-yard line.

Two completed passes and a face mask penalty later and the Wildcats had moved to the Pride 13-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, Thornton found tight end Thomas Shue for a 13-yard touchdown pass that made the score 28-7 Wildcats 6:04 to play in the opening half.

The Pride added a late touchdown in the second quarter and one in the early fourth quarter to make the game interesting.

In the second half, the Wildcat offense disappeared and gave Clarke a final chance to tie the game.

Forced to punt, C-SC punter Aaron Barr and the C-SC punt team downed the ball at the Clarke one-yard line with 3:07 to play.

Having to go 99 yards for the tying score, Clarke got out from under the shadow if its goal line with a pass interference call on the Wildcats, which moved the ball to the 16-yard line.

On the next play, C-SC's Caleb Johnson picked off Pride quarterback Carson Estrada with 1:43 to play in the game.

C-SC was able to get a first down with three running plays and then went to victory formation to secure the road win.

Thornton finished the game with 299 yards passing on 25 of 40 accuracy with one touchdown and one interception. Thornton also had 34 yards rushing on one touchdown on the day.

Thornton's main target was once again Kyle Dixon who hauled in eight passes for a game-high 113 yards. Eli Edmonds, returning from an injury, had five catches for 65 yards.

Shamon Coleman led the C-SC rushing attack with 66 yards on 11 carries. The Wildcats have rushed for 100 yards or more in five of their seven games this season, including the last four weeks.

C-SC returns home for the next two games beginning next Saturday, Oct. 25, when it welcomes Saint Ambrose University to Ellison Poulton Stadium for its annual homecoming game. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m.