DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre football outlasted visiting Trinity Saturday afternoon at Farris Stadium, winning 33-28 in a game that was never separated by more than one possession.
 
The Colonels improve to 5-1 overall with the hard-fought win, moving to 3-1 in the Southern Athletic Association. Trinity slips to 3-3 (2-2 SAA), and has dropped both meetings against Centre since joining the league as an associate member last season.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Both defenses were opportunistic in the first quarter. Centre's Cole McCarson had a strip sack on Trinity's opening drive, resulting in Clayton Bell's recovery. Bell had a forced fumble and recovery of his own on the Tigers' next possession.
- Trinity's defense responded with a blocked punt on the ensuing Colonel drive, setting up just outside the red zone. Charles Davis eventually plunged into the endzone for the game's first score.
- Just before the first quarter expired, the Colonels leveled the score on 7-play, 69-yard touchdown drive. Tanner Young hit Davis Kannapell for a 19-yard score after finding Cody Estep on a clutch 3rd down conversion earlier on the possession.
- The Tigers regained the lead on a crippling 41-yard touchdown scamper from Jay Foster on 3rd and 15.
- Young would hit Jordan Gunter on a 17-yard TD to the back of the endzone on Centre's next drive, however, quickly tying the game again at 14-14 following the PAT.
- The junior quarterback continued to sling the ball confidently, later hitting Jaylon Hibbs for a 31-yard touchdown pass down the seam to give Centre its first lead of the game with 6:04 left in the half.
- Trinity reeled off a 95-yard punt return touchdown to tie the game, but a late Ben Logsdon field goal made it 24-21 Centre at the break. 
- Logsdon opened the second half scoring with a field goal to push the margin to six, but a Trinity touchdown pass gave the visitors a 28-27 lead midway through the third period.
- With the Tigers poised to score again, Trinity quarterback Wyatt Messex fumbled on the goalline and Andrew Busby recovered for the Colonels. The costly turnover was the third of the day for a Trinity team that had only three giveaways all season entering Saturday.
- A 10-play drive capped by Trevor Carnell's leaping 1-yard touchdown run gave Centre a 33-28 lead. The Colonels' two-point try was unsuccessful.
- Centre dialed up the pressure on Trinity's final drive, as Zach Berger and Andrew Busby each had disruptive QB hurries to help seal the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre totaled nearly 500 yards of offense, getting 278 through the air and 217 on the ground. The Tigers rushed for 244 yards but managed only 103 passing yards. 
- Young completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, continuing his six-game streak of multi-touchdown efforts. He also went without an interception for the second consecutive game.
- Colin Burnam (116) and Carnell (104) each amassed 100-plus yards yet again, averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry. 
- Gunter led Centre with six catches, while Cody Estep caught five balls for 98 yards.
- Jaylen Jones was all over the field defensively, leading all players with a career-best 10 solo tackles.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels are on the road next Saturday, heading to Memphis, Tenn., for a 2 p.m. kick against Rhodes.