Quarterback Liam Thornton threw for three touchdowns and rushed for two more scores as the Culver-Stockton football team upended Central Methodist University 60-43 Saturday afternoon at Ellison Poulton Stadium.

All three of Thornton's touchdown passes went to Kyle Dixon, who had 11 receptions for 236 yards receiving, which is the secnd most receiving yards in a game in school history. Dixon had touchdown receptions of nine, 30 and 68 yards. 

The 60 points scored were the most scored by the Wildcats since they racked up 67 points in Head Coach Tom Sallay's first victory at the end of the 2017 season. The Wildcats led 30-29 at halftime and outscored the Eagles 30-14 in the second half.

Thornton finished the game with 368 yards passing on 20 of 30 accuracy with two interceptions. He also rushed for 66 yards on 11 carries and scored on runs of one and 10 yards.

C-SC, which accumulated a season-high 542 total yards, rushed for 174 yards on the ground in addition to the passing yardage by Thornton. Nicholas Jarrett recorded his first 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 106 yards on 18 carries, including a six-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Matt Morton added two field goals to the offensive effort, drilling kicks of 27 and 31 yards. 

The defense also got involved in the scoring for the Wildcats.

With the Wildcats leading 7-6 in the first quarter, Kaden Thomas picked off Eagle quarterback AJ Donovan and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown and a 14-6 C-SC lead. Thomas finished the day with eight total tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble which led to a touchdown and the pick six.

The other defensive touchdown came late in the game as the Eagles were trying to make it a one possession game.

Trailing 53-43with under two minutes remaining, Thomas sacked Donovan and forced a fumble. Azaan Tabari picked up the loose ball and rambled 54 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.

In all, the Wildcat defense forced five CMU turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles, and C-SC scored 34 of its 60 points off those miscues.

The Wildcats (5-4) are scheduled to travel to Des Moines, Iowa, next Saturday, Nov. 8, to face top-ranked and defending national champion Grand View University. Game time is slated for 12 p.m.