Football News
Centre rallies for 28-24 win on senior day
In the final home game for 18 seniors, the Centre College football team rallied late in the fourth quarter to defeat DePauw University 28-24 at home for the first time in school history, Saturday, Oct. 28, in Danville, Ky.
Senior running back Adam Blandford (Middletown, Ohio) scored his third touchdown of the game with 0:59 left in the game to give Centre it's first win ever in Danville against the Tigers. Prior to this win, the Colonels won four games in the 14-game series with two of those coming in Greencastle, Ind. Centre's other two wins came in games played at neutral sites in Indianapolis, Ind. and Louisville, Ky. back in 1919 and 1920.
With the win, the Colonels even their overall record at 4-4, while upping their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference mark to 2-3. DePauw drops its second straight game to fall to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in league play.
After each team went three and out on their first possession of the game, Centre jumped on the scoreboard when Blandford rushed in from four yards out to cap a nine-play 48-yard drive to put the Colonels ahead 7-0.
The quarter ended with Centre ahead 7-0, but the scoreboard would change midway through the second quarter when DePauw running back Jeremiah Marks found the end zone from 14 yards out to tie the game at seven apiece.
The score remained 7-7 into halftime, but quickly changed on the first drive of the third quarter. The Tigers returned the opening kick off to the Centre 45-yard line to start the half. Six plays and 45 yards later, DePauw quarterback Spud Dick found Chris Gasbarra for a 27-yard scoring strike. The extra point attempt was missed and the Tigers led 13-7.
The Colonels wasted little time answering. Centre drove 65 yards on eight plays on its next drive with Blandford ending the drive once again, this time with a 15-yard run to put the Colonels back on top 14-13.
Following another three and out by the Tigers on their next possession, the Colonels moved the ball once again. Blandford played a big role in the drive, rushing six times for 31 yards, and passing once for 20 yards to senior Adam Clark (Frankfort, Ky.). Clark finished the drive with a nine-yard run for his first touchdown of the season to give Centre a 21-13 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, DePauw got back on the scoreboard. The Tigers gained possession off a Centre punt at their own 38-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Marks found a hole and ran 62 yards to pay dirt for the touchdown to pull DePauw within 21-19. Dick found Brandon Horn in the end zone for the two-point conversion and the game was tied at 21 apiece.
The Colonels went three and out on their next possession and were forced to punt. After downing a 16-yard punt at the Centre 45-yard line, the Tigers drove to the Colonels' 23-yard line, but were forced to attempt a 41-yard field goal. DePauw's Tyler Mallory hit a low line drive through the uprights to give the Tigers a 24-21 lead with only 5:01 left to play.
Down three points and starting from its 31-yard line, Centre went to work. The Colonels faced a second down and thirteen from its own 40-yard line, but senior quarterback Kevin Phelps (Leitchfield, Ky.) found sophomore receiver Chris Zimmerman (Oxford, Ohio) in the middle of the field for a 22-yard completion.
Later in the drive, Centre faced a third and 10 from the DePauw 38-yard line. Phelps found Zimmerman again in the middle of the field for a 13-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Blandford then carried the ball four straight times with the last one going for a six-yard touchdown to give the Colonels a 28-24 lead with just under a minute to play.
DePauw started its next possession on its own 37-yard line, but on its first play Dick's pass was deflected and hauled in by sophomore defensive back Alex Ubelhart (Louisville, Ky.) to seal the win for Centre.
The Colonels' offense posted one of its best games of the year posting season high's in points with 28, and offensive yards with 377. Centre also matched a season-high with 203 total rushing yards and threw for 174 yards, the second most on the season.
Blandford finished the day with 26 carries for 134 yards (5.2 avg.) and three touchdowns. The game was the third 100+ rushing performance of the season for the senior running back giving him 541 yards for the season. He has now rushed for 1,943 career rushing yards, only 20 yards shy of Gene Scott for fourth place all-time in school history.
Phelps completed 12 of 21 pass attempts for 154 yards and Clark caught five passes for 55 yards and ran the ball four more times for 32 yards and a score.
The Colonels' defense extended its turnover streak forcing two interceptions. Centre has now forced a turnover in 20 straight games dating back to the 2004 season. Senior defensive end Brian Dougherty (Hopkinsville, Ky.) paced the defense with 10 tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass break-up.
Centre will play its remaining two games on the road, traveling to LaGrange, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 4 to play first-year program LaGrange College. The non-conference game is set to kick-off at 1:30 p.m.
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