One year ago, the Culver-Stockton College football team scored a defensive touchdown and a special teams touchdown that helped propel the Wildcats to a 35-10 season-opening victory over Graceland University at Ellison Poulton Stadium.

The Yellowjackets turned the tables on the Wildcats Saturday as a defensive touchdown and a special teams touchdown turned the tide in a 28-17 season-opening victory over the Wildcats at Huntsman Field in Lamoni, Iowa.

The Wildcats jumped to a 7-0 first quarter lead when freshman running back Desmond Phillips scampered in from two yards out with 20 seconds remaining in the opening period. The touchdown was set up on a 48-yard scramble and pass from quarterback Jake Hoffman to receive Ronrico Ragsdale that gave the ball to the Wildcats at the GU 19-yard line.

Add a personal four penalty and two ensuing offside penalties by the Yellowjackets and Phillips was able to waltz into the end zone.

C-SC appeared to be set up to strike again early in the second quarter when the Yellowjackets' Terrence Wells fumbled and the Wildcats recovered at the Graceland 26-yard line.

However, the momentum the Wildcats thought they had earned turned quickly as the Yellowjackets forced a fumble by Hoffman on the very next play and GU's Reggie Ramey scooped it up and raced 59 yards for the tying touchdown.

That touchdown seemed to fire up the Yellowjackets, who forced the Wildcats into a three-in-out on the ensuing possession. A 34-yard punt by Dylan Klawuhn was fielded by Graceland's Wells at the Wildcat 41-yard line and he matriculated down the field for the go-ahead touchdown that gave the Yellowjackets the lead for good.

Graceland would add another touchdown and a field goal before the quarter was over and headed to the locker room with a 25-7 lead at the intermission.

In the second half, the Wildcats got a 23-yard field goal from Michael Camargo in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 25-10.

The score would stay that way until the 4:05 mark of the fourth quarter when Graceland's Anthony Wood drilled his second field goal of the day from 25 yards out to make it 28-10.

The Wildcats added a 10-yard touchdown pass with just over two minutes remaining in the game as Curtis Widener, the Wildcats' third quarterback of the day, found freshman Nick Hill to account for the final score.

The Wildcat offense was held to 199 total yards, including just 47 yards on the ground. Three C-SC quarterbacks combined to complete eight passes on 27 attempts for 152 yards. They were picked off one time.

Widener led the way with 104 yards passing on seven-of-19 accuracy and the one touchdown. Hoffman was 1-for-7 for 48 yards while Kyle Elmore missed on his only pass attempt. Phillips led the rushing attack with 41 yards on 15 carries, while Ragsdale had two receptions for 93 yards.

Defensively, the Wildcats held Graceland to 282 yards overall but allowed 214 which came on the ground on 48 attempts, an average of 4.5 yards per carry. C-SC held Graceland quarterback Matt Fink to nine completions on 17 attempts for 68 yards.

The Wildcats are slated to open their home schedule next Saturday, Sept. 8, against Peru State College at Ellison Poulton Stadium. The Bobcats fell to Baker University 34-13 at home Saturday.

C-SC will celebrate Community Day sponsored by the Missouri National Guard Saturday. Admission will be free and concessions will be sold at a reduced price. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.