By: Kyle Piercy, Director of Athletics Communications
Centre Colonels (0-0) at Hanover Panthers (0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 7
Site: Hanover, Ind.
Stadium: Alumni Stadium
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Centre:
Schedule |
Roster |
Stats
Hanover:
Schedule |
Roster |
Stats
On Tap
- Saturday's 2019 football season opener will be the sixth consecutive time the Colonels have kicked off their season with a matchup against the Hanover Panthers.
Series History
- Saturday marks the 47th meeting between the two schools, and the Colonels own a 31-13-2 advantage in the all-time series.
- Centre has won seven games in a row against Hanover, including the last five season openers.
- Centre defeated Hanover 28-18 last season at home, and won the last meeting in Indiana, 27-14, back in 2017.
The Last Meeting
Centre 28, Hanover 18 (9.1.18)
- Down 12-0 late in the third quarter, Centre rallied to defeat the Panthers 28-18 in the 2018 season opener.
- A late takeaway from
Luc Gendreau led to a
Jordan Gunter receiving touchdown, giving Centre a 21-18 lead.
- The Colonels finished with 361 yards of offense, and defensively totaled five sacks.
Last Season
The Colonels are coming off a 10-2 season in 2018, which included a Southern Athletic Association championship and the program's third NCAA Division III Playoff appearance. They defeated No. 14 Washington & Jefferson, 54-13, in the opening round before falling in the "Sweet 16" to perennial power, top-ranked Mt. Union. Coach
Andy Frye enters his 22nd season at the helm of the program.
The Hanover Panthers reached the NCAA Division III Playoff for the first time since 2003 a season ago, finishing with a 7-4 overall record. Head Coach Matt Theobald is entering his fourth season with the Panthers, and was named the 2018 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Scouting the Offense
- In 2018, Centre's offense led the SAA in total scoring, total offense, passing offense, first downs and passing efficiency, while ranking second in rushing offense and red-zone scoring.
- Leading the charge up front will be returning All-American,
Drew Yeager, who anchors an offensive line that also welcomes back starters Zach Edgar and
James Meckey.
- Among the skill positions, wideouts
Mack Cox,
Jordan Gunter and
Eric Niemann return with a wealth of experience, while
Jay Becherer seems poised for a breakout season. At running back,
Patric Edwards, Dameon Jones and
Zarian Hunter Cure have the task of filling the void left by All-SAA regulars
Colin Burnam and
Trevor Carnell.
Scouting the Defense
- All-American cornerback
Cal Lewellyn headlines a defense that returns six starters, three of which earned All-SAA honors in 2018.
- Up front,
Ryan Smith,
Austin Mitchell and
Oliver Hunter figure to lead the defensive line, while
Jaylen Jones,
Andre Evans and
Carter Smith highlight the linebacker unit.
In the Polls
- Centre enters the year ranked No. 20 in the D3football.com Preseason Poll and No. 21 in the 2019
College Football America Yearbook Division III preseason Top 30.
Next Week
- Next week, the Colonels will host another 2018 NCAA Playoff participant, Maryville.
- Centre holds a 34-28-1 series advantage over Maryville, including a decisive 40-6 victory in Tennessee last season.
- Maryville went 7-3 last year, reaching the NCAA Playoffs after winning the USA South Athletic Conference Championship outright.
