Centre Colonels (0-0) vs. Hanover Panthers (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 1
Site: Danville, Ky.
Stadium: Farris Stadium
Kickoff: 7 p.m. EDT
Centre: Schedule | Roster | Stats
Hanover: Schedule | Roster | Stats
On Tap
- Saturday's 2018 football season opener will be the fifth consecutive time the Colonels have kicked off their season with a matchup against the Hanover Panthers.
Series History
- Saturday marks the 46th meeting between the two schools, as the Colonels own a 30-13-2 advantage in the all-time series.?
- Centre has won six games in a row against Hanover, including the last four season openers.
- Centre defeated Hanover on the road by a score of 27-14 last season.
The Last Meeting
Centre 27, Hanover 14 (9.2.17)
- The Colonels defeated Hanover 27-14 to open up their 2017 campaign.
- After Hanover got on the board first with an interception return for a touchdown, the Centre defense held the Hanover offense scoreless until late in the fourth quarter.
- With the passing game held largely in check, Trevor Carnell had a huge day for the Colonels on the ground, carrying the ball a school record 38 times for 180 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
- Cody Estep caught six passes for 111 yards and two scores in the win.
- Cal Lewellyn and John Wilson each picked off passes to turn away Hanover drives.
Last Season
Centre comes into 2018 receiving votes in the preseason rankings. The 2017 SAA runners-up posted a 9-1 record last season, including wins in their final six contests. The Colonels' All-SAA running back tandem of Trevor Carnell and Colin Burnam along with a strong offensive line should provide support for senior Tanner Young, who will start at quarterback after backing up All-SAA Devin Hayes the last two seasons.
On defense, the Colonels have an experienced core of returning starters. The cornerback tandem of senior John Wilson and junior Cal Lewellyn is one of the best in the conference, with Lewellyn garnering preseason All-America recognition, but the defensive unit returns six starters from last year's front seven as well.
Under coach Matt Theobald, the Hanover Panthers posted their second consecutive 4-6 record in 2017. The Panthers also finished with a 4-4 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference for the second year in a row.
The most improved aspect of the Panthers' game in 2017 was their offense, as Hanover increased its scoring output by six points per game. Hanover scored 30 or more points five times in 2017.
Top Returners
In addition to his record-setting day against Hanover in the season opener, the aforementioned Trevor Carnell was the First Team All-SAA running back, leading the Colonels in rushing despite missing the last two games of the year due to injury.
After a breakthrough freshman season that saw him win the SAA Newcomer of the Year Award, junior cornerback Cal Lewellyn did not see as many passes thrown his way in 2017, but he still earned All-SAA First Team honors and is the only player on the Centre squad to receive preseason All-America recognition from D3footballcom.
The other All-SAA First Team returnee for the Colonels is sophomore punter Jake Holloway, who led the conference and finished in the top 20 in the country in punting as a freshman.
On the offensive line, senior Lowell Brown and junior Drew Yeager each earned All-SAA Second Team honors opening up alleys for Carnell and All-SAA Second Team back Colin Burnam. Elsewhere on offense, record-setting wideout Cody Estep was named All-SAA Second Team.
The defense also returns senior defensive end Zach Berger and cornerback John Wilson, both of whom earned All-SAA Second Team honors in 2017.
Next Week
- Next week the Colonels will travel to Tennessee to take on the Maryville Scots.
- Centre holds a 33-28-1 series advantage over Maryville, but the two teams have not met since 2010, a 35-0 Centre shutout victory.
- Maryville went 5-5 last year with a 3-4 mark in the USA South, but three of their losses came by a margin of a touchdown or less.
