By: Kyle Piercy, Director of Athletics Communications
Centre Colonels (3-3, 1-3 SAA) at Hendrix Warriors (4-1, 2-1 SAA)
Date: Saturday, October 19
Site: Conway, Ark.
Stadium: Young-Wise Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET
Centre:
Schedule |
Roster |
Stats
Hendrix:
Schedule |
Roster |
Stats
On Tap
- Coming off their first Southern Athletic Association victory of the season, the Colonels travel to take on Hendrix in Conway, Ark.
Series History
- The Colonels hold a slight 4-2 series advantage over the Warriors, having won each of the previous two meetings.
- Last season in Arkansas, Centre drubbed Hendrix by a 45-6 margin, surrendering just a couple field goals defensively while amassing more than 500 yards on offense (more info below).
- The first meeting between the teams was during the 2013 season, when Hendrix's football program was restored.
The Last Meeting
Centre 45, Hendrix 6 (9.15.18)
- The Colonels thoroughly handled the Warriors last year, winning by a wide 45-6 score in the 2018 conference opener.
- Centre's
Tanner Young and
John Walton each tossed a pair of touchdown passes, while
Jaylon Hibbs racked up 123 yards and two scores on just five catches.
- Defensively, the Colonels forced eight punts while recording three takeaways.
Cal Lewellyn finished with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Last Time Out
Centre 24, Sewanee 21 (10.12.19)
- Despite battling a handful of injuries, Centre snapped its three-game skid with a 24-21 victory over Sewanee on Homecoming.
- It was a back-and-forth affair between the two sides, but a late touchdown pass from Walton to
Christian Billiter proved to be the game-winning score. The Centre defense clinched the win with three consecutive sacks on Sewanee's last possession.
- Walton and
Clark Payne combined to throw for 188 yards, while the running backs managed 183 yards on the ground – led by
Zarian Hunter Cure's 81.
-
Hagen Ellis caught two passes for 20 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
-
Keanan John and
Andre Evans each totaled nine tackles, while
Clayton Bell led the way with three sacks.
Bell in the Backfield
- The aforementioned three-sack performance led to Bell's first-ever SAA Defensive Player of the Week honor. He totaled four tackles and three sacks – including two on the decisive final drive that ended Sewanee's chances.
- Bell ranks second in the SAA with seven sacks this season, and is among the league leaders with 9.5 tackles for loss.
Scouting the Warriors
- Hendrix got off to a hot start in 2019, and despite a recent loss to No. 8 Berry is still receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25.
- The Warriors' first three wins of the season came in close contests, and they followed with a 33-0 rout against Rhodes before their misstep against Berry.
- They have committed just five turnovers in five games, tied for the league lead while ranking 25th in the country.
- Miles Thompson leads the SAA in completion percentage (67%) while ranking second in passing yards per game (205.8). Likewise, running back Kip Vanhoose is second in rushing average (100.8).
- Sandy Burks has been an asset for Hendrix's special teams, leading the conference with nine made field goals while sitting fourth in total points (40).
- Defensively, Brooks Parham and Canon Roeder are among the top eight in the SAA in tackles per game.
Next Week
- The Colonels return to Farris Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Birmingham-Southern.
- Centre holds a 14-2 overall edge in their series with the Panthers.
- The Colonels have won each of the last six matchups in the series with BSC, scoring at least 42 points in each of the victories. They soared past the Panthers a season ago, winning by a wide 56-20 margin in the regular season finale in Alabama.
- The Colonels have not lost to the Panthers in Birmingham since their inaugural clash in 1927.
