Playing in its regular season finale, the Centre College football team fell 31-24 to Rhodes College Saturday, Nov. 10 in Memphis, Tenn.

The Colonels struck first when senior running back Monte Scotton (Cleveland, Tenn.) capped off a four-play, 58-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run for an early 7-0 lead.

After the teams exchanged a pair of punts, the Lynx took over on their own 26-yard line. Rhodes needed only three plays, including a 55-yard completion, to tie the game on a Dane Wilson five-yard run.

Both teams added a field goal each on their next drive for a 10-10 tie early in the second quarter. Senior kicker Jordan Gay (Danville, Ky.) connected on a 44-yard kick, while the Lynx tied it with a 26-yard attempt. 

With 2:09 left in the half Rhodes was pinned down at its own one-yard line after a 59-yard punt by Gay. The Lynx used only eight plays to go 99 yards and take a 16-10 lead on a Blake Box to Jack Lartigue five-yard touchdown pass. The big play was a 47-yard run by Kevin Vieira from the Rhodes 19-yard line. The extra point was no good and the score stayed that way into the half. 

Rhodes (6-3, 2-2 SAA) added to the lead at the beginning of the third quarter when Box had a 63-yard run to cap a two-play, 84-yard drive to make it 23-10. 

Centre answered on its next drive with a nine-play, 74-yard drive. Sophomore quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.) found freshman tight end Brandon Kamp (Cincinnati, Ohio) for a four-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 23-17. The score was Kamp's first career touchdown reception. 

Trailing by six midway through the fourth quarter, Haden and Kamp connected a second time, this one from nine-yards out to give the Colonels a 24-23 lead with 6:34 left to play.

Rhodes started its next drive from its 25-yard line. Following a pair of six-yard runs by Tyler Perkins, he ran a third straight time, this one for 49 yards to the Centre 14. Three plays later, Kevin Vieira crossed the goaline from four yards out. Perkins then scored on a two-point conversion attempt to give the Lynx a 31-24 lead with only 3:24 left on the clock.

The Colonels' next drive made it to the Rhodes 49-yard line, but a fourth-and-one rushing attempt by Haden was stopped for no gain and Rhodes took over. 

Centre got the ball back one last time with 24 seconds left, but the Colonels were unable to score and the game finished with the seven-point win for the Lynx.

Haden finished the day 26 of 42 for 185 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception. Scotton and fellow senior Jason Osterman (Monroe, Ohio) played in their final game of their career. Scotton had 95 rushing yards on 17 carries (5.6 avg.), including his eighth rushing touchdown of the season, while Osterman caught four passes for 57 yards. 

Senior Michael Bozarth (Mount Washington, Ky.), also playing in his final collegiate game, led the defense with eight tackles, including a half tackle for loss.

Centre ends its season with a 6-4 overall record and a 1-3 mark in the SAA.