News Archive 2006-07
Centre defense keys shutout win over Sewanee
Senior running back Jordan Tinnell (Louisville, Ky.) scored two touchdowns, and the defense recorded its first shutout win since the 2004 season, as the Centre College football team won its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) game 14-0 over Sewanee-University of the South, Saturday, Sept. 30, in Danville, Ky.
With the win, the Colonels improve to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the SCAC, while Sewanee falls to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in league play. The last time Centre shutout a team was Oct. 2, 2004, when it shutout Sewanee 28-0, the last time the Tigers visited Danville. The Colonels have now shut out Sewanee three times in the last 10 years.
Both offenses struggled in the first half to find any rhythm at as the two teams combined for 142 total offensive yards. In fact, the Colonels first four possessions netted -3 yards on 12 plays.
Early in the second quarter the Centre defense forced Sewanee to punt from its own 19-yard line. The Tigers' 33-yard punt was returned by freshman Zack Sloan (Lebanon, Ind.) for 23 yards to the Sewanee 29-yard line.
The Colonels drove to the Sewanee four-yard line but on third and three were stopped short of the first down marker. Centre decided to attempt the field goal and was successful, but a Tiger defender lined up in the neutral zone making it fourth and inches.
The offense returned to the field and senior quarterback Kevin Phelps (Leitchfield, Ky.) gained the first down on the next play just short of the goal line. On first and goal from the one-yard line, Tinnell crossed the goal line for his first score of the game to put Centre up 7-0.
Two drives later, the Colonels had the ball on their own 41-yard line. On third and eight, Phelps was intercepted by George Twitty at the 50-yard line. The Tigers then drove tot he Centre 16-yard line, but on fourth and two Tiger quarterback Wes Satterfield was tackled for a loss of two yards and the ball went back to Centre.
The Colonels then took over on its 18-yard line and drove to the 34-yard line. On third and five, the Tigers sacked junior quarterback Jarrod Williams (Carrollton, Ky.) forcing Williams to fumble the ball. Sewanee recovered at the Centre 30-yard line with 2:00 left in the first half.
Five plays later, the Tigers were force to attempt a 35-yard field goal, but missed wide left and the Colonels would go into the locker room with a 7-0 lead.
The second half looked much like the first as both teams struggled to move the ball. On Sewanee's third drive of the second half, junior linebacker Matt Johnson (Ashland, Ky.) intercepted Satterfield and returned the ball to the Sewanee one-yard line. Centre has now forced at least one turnover in 18-straight games.
The Colonels, however, were unable to capitalize running three plays for -3 yards. A 21-yard field goal attempt went wide left and the score remained 7-0 in favor of Centre.
Sewanee was forced to punt on their ensuing drive and Centre took over at its own 11-yard line. The Colonels drove 89 yards on 11 plays using 4:46 off the clock to score its second touchdown of the game. Tinnell rushed in from a yard-out for his second touchdown of the game and third of the season.
Senior running back Adam Blandford (Middletown, Ohio) played a big part in the drive carrying the ball six times for 64 yards. Blandford finished with a season best 153 yards on 19 carries, marking the first time a Centre runner has rushed for 100 or more yards in a game.
The Tigers threatened again driving to the Centre eight-yard line, but were unable to score once again as four plays from inside the Centre 15-yard line were unsuccessful.
Senior wide receiver Adam Clark (Frankfort, Ky.), a 2005 SCAC Tri-Offensive Player-of-the-Year, played in his first game of the year after suffering an injury during the preseason. Clark caught four passes for 33 yards in his 2006 debut.
Sophomore punter Chris Zimmerman (Oxford, Ohio), who also missed the first four games due to an injury, played a key role in field position. Zimmerman punted four times for an average of 44.8 yards per punt, including a 58-yarder. He also hit three inside the Sewanee 20-yard line.
The Centre defense limited Sewanee to only 196 total offensive yards, the second time this season, the Colonels have held an opponent to less than 200 total offensive yards.
Centre will next travel to Jackson, Miss. to play the Millsaps College Majors. The SCAC contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CST.
|
