Centre College head football coach Andy Frye became only the second football coach in school history to win 100 games as the Colonels defeated Birmingham Southern 53-19 Saturday, Nov. 16 in Danville, Ky.

The game was also the final home game for 16 seniors, including Harry Meisner (Wyoming, Ohio), who capped his career by becoming the first Centre player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Kris Garrett accomplished the feat in 1995.

The Colonels (7-3 overall, 4-2 SAA) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Meisner score on an eight-yard run 1:51 into the first quarter for an early 7-0 lead.

The ensuing kick-off was fumbled and recovered by Centre at the Panthers' 27-yard line. Six plays later, Meisner scored his second touchdown on a four-yard run to make it 14-0 with 11:25 left in the opening quarter.

The Panthers (5-4 overall, 3-3 SAA) cut the lead to 14-7 late in the first quarter, but junior defensive lineman Paul Megilligan (Danville, Ky.) sacked Birmingham Southern quarterback Tyson Beachman in the end zone for a safety and a 16-7 lead.

Meisner then scored his third rushing touchdown in the second quarter, and later added a 57-yard reception for another touchdown as the lead grew to 30-7.

A late touchdown by the Panthers cut the lead to 30-13 at the break, but junior quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.) found Meisner for a seven-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to push the lead to 37-13.

On Birmingham Southern's next drive, Beacham's third-and-ten pass was picked off by junior cornerback Selwyn Mallah (Lawrenceville, Ga.), who went 50 yards for a touchdown to make it a 31-point game.

Freshman Alex Ward (Murray, Ky.) added a 31-yard field, and Meisner went 52 yards on his final collegiate carry for his fourth rushing touchdown of the game and sixth overall, giving him 20 for the season, one shy of the school record. Meisner had 142 yards on 24 carries to finish the season with 1,036 rushing yards, the sixth highest in school history. He also added 73 yards on three catches.

Centre out-gained the Panthers 489-355 in total offensive yards, including 244 yards passing and 245 yards rushing. In the process, the Colonels set two new school records for offensive yards in a season. The school's 2001 record of 3,956 total offensive yards was eclipsed this year as the offense finished with 4,449 yards. Centre also set a new school record for averaging the most offensive yards per game for an entire season with 444.9, 13.9 yards better than the previous mark of 431.0 set in 1955.

Haden finished 18-of-31 for 244 yards and two passing touchdowns, while also gaining 85 yards on 15 carries. 

Senior linebacker Erich Vogelsang (Northbend, Ohio) completed his career with a strong performance. Vogelsang recorded a team-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. 

With his 100th career victory, Frye needs only one more win to tie the man he succeeded, Joe McDaniel, for the most coaching wins by a football coach in school history. The two men have combined to lead Centre to 201 wins since the 1980 season.