Football News
Colonels win easily over Rhodes on Senior Day
In the final regular season home game for 23 seniors, the Centre College football team defeated Rhodes College 37-10 in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) game Saturday, Oct. 31 at Farris Stadium in Danville, Ky.
The Colonels, which have now won three straight Homecoming games, improve to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the SCAC, while Rhodes falls to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in league action.
Centre wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as the Colonels took the opening kick-off and drove 69 yards on only five plays for the first score of the game, a 16-yard rushing touchdown by sophomore running back Jonathan Pinque (Athens, Ala.).
That lead was extended to 14-0 after junior linebacker Will Geisen (Edgewood, Ky.) recovered a fumble and scampered 58 yards for the touchdown.
The Lynx then scored their lone touchdown on the next drive. Following a 44-yard kick return to the Centre 30-yard line, Matt Gilbert crossed the goal line from a yard out to cut the lead in half at 14-7.
It was all Centre from their as the Colonels scored 23 points over the next two quarters off of three touchdowns and a safety.
Junior defensive end Grant Sharp (Russell Springs, Ky.) returned a blocked punt for 24 yards for Centre's third touchdown. Pinque added a one-yard touchdown run later in the second quarter for his second score of the game and senior quarterback Grant Conliffe (Louisville, Ky.) found senior receiver Nick Edwards (Flemingsburg, Ky.) for a 50-yard scoring strike in the third quarter for the final points of the game.
The Centre offense out-gained Rhodes 448-230 in total offensive yards, including a 265-61 advantage in rushing yards. Conliffe finished 10 of 18 for 183 yards and a touchdown in his final regular season home game. Pinque posted his fourth 100-yard rushing game, going for 179 yards on 23 carries (7.8 avg.). He also scored two touchdowns to tie him with former Centre standout Kris Garrett in career rushing touchdowns with 21. In addition, Edwards caught three passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
The Colonels' defense, which went without a turnover for the first time in 49 games last week, forced three turnovers against the Lynx, including two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Sophomore defensive end Cooper McGuire (Danville, Ky.) and senior defensive end Tim Groh (Lebanon, Ohio) paced the Centre defense with six tackles each, including a sack by each player in the win.
The Colonels will look to win at least a share of the SCAC championship Saturday, Nov. 2, when they travel to Trinity University. Kick-off is set for 1:30 p.m. CST in San Antonio, Texas.
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