Trailing 17-7 early in the second half, the Centre College football team scored 27 unanswered points, including 20 in the third quarter, to defeat visiting Sewanee 34-17 in an SAA contest Saturday, Oct. 19 at Farris Stadium in Danville, Ky.

The Colonels have now won 40 of the 71 meetings between the two schools in the longest series against any opponent in school history.

Centre fell behind 10-0 in the first half on a Sewanee (2-5, 1-2 SAA) first quarter field goal and a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal to begin the second quarter. 

With 3:15 remaining in the first half the Colonels took possession at their own 37-yard line. Twelve plays and 63 yards later, senior running back Harry Meisner (Wyoming, Ohio) crossed the goal line from one yard out with 28 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 10-7.

Centre's opening drive of the second half stalled at the 41-yard line, but senior quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.) pinned the Tigers deep in their own territory at their eight-yard line. However, Curtis Johnson, who had thrown for only 27 yards the entire first half, hit Charlie Powell on the first play for a 92-yard touchdown, and the Tigers led 17-7.

That 10-point lead did not last long as Haden hit senior receiver Austin Jones (Louisville, Ky.) for 16 yards to the 50-yard line on the first play. Following a holding penalty, Haden then found sophomore Jake Johnson (Louisville, Ky.) for 41 yards to the Sewanee 19. The junior signal caller then took the ball and went the remaining 19 yards for a touchdown to make it a three-point game.

The Colonels' defense held the Tigers to three-and-out on their next possession to get the ball back to the offense. Meisner rambled for 36 yards on the first play to the Sewanee 30. A 14-yard pass to Jones, and a 12-yard run by Meisner put the ball on the Tigers' 4-yard line. On third and one Meisner scored his second touchdown of the game on another one-yard run to give Centre its first lead at 21-17.

Once again, the defense wasted little time getting the ball back to the offense. On Sewanee's first play on its next possession, Johnson was intercepted by sophomore safety Sam Spees (Dayton, Ohio) at the Tigers' 35-yard line. 

The Colonels needed only three plays as Haden connected with Jones for a 19-yard scoring strike. The extra point was blocked and Centre led 27-17.

Meisner then capped a 24-carry, 119-yard rushing effort early in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard touchdown for the final 34-17 tally. The senior back, which has now posted three games with three rushing touchdowns this season, also caught four passes for 73 yards.

Centre out-gained Sewanee 481-311 in total offensive yards even though the Tigers had more than a 10-minute advantage in time of possession.

Haden finished the day 17 of 32 for 270 yards with a touchdown and an interception through the air, as well as 43 yards and a rushing score on the ground. He also punted the ball four times for a 47.0 average, including three inside the 20-yard line.

Seven different players caught at least one pass led by Jones with six catches for 68 yards. He now has 45 catches on the season, which already ties him for 10th in school history for receptions in a single season with four regular season games to play.

Three Centre defenders finished with double-digit tackle totals. Senior linebacker Andrew Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore linebacker Nick Dietz (Cincinnati, Ohio) had 13 tackles each. Junior defensive end Devon Freeman (Louisville, Ky.) also had a big game with 12 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. 

The Colonels, now 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the SAA, will travel to Memphis, Tenn. for a key conference contest against Rhodes College Saturday, Oct. 26. The Lynx had a bye this week and will also enter that game with a 5-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the league.