LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Centre football's offense was firing on all cylinders Sunday afternoon, helping the Colonels defeat Austin by a 44-20 score in a neutral-site meeting inside War Memorial Stadium.
 
The game was played as part of the Southern Athletic Association Championship weekend, and was between the third-place teams in the East and West divisions. Centre finishes the modified spring slate 2-2 overall while Austin falls to 1-3.
 
All told, the Colonel offense piled up 581 total yards, gaining over 300 through the air and over 200 on the ground. Trentin Dupper provided a dynamic effort as Centre's primary signal-caller, delivering a touchdown pass, rush and catch in the victory.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Despite their final numbers, the Centre offense scored just three points on three drives in the first quarter. Nick Whitlow's 36-yard field goal gave the Colonels their first points.
- Austin held a 7-3 lead after the opening period thanks to an early 75-yard punt return for a score.
- Centre lit up the scoreboard in the second, however, hitting paydirt on all four of its possessions.
- Dupper caught a TD pass from Jake Woosley to give Centre its first lead at 9-7. Patric Edwards then capped the next two offensive drives with touchdown runs of 17 and one yard.
- Centre's defense forced a late 3-and-out following Edwards' second score, giving the Colonel offense the ball with less than a minute remaining in the half. Dupper connected with Sam Murray on a 52-yard gain to quickly put Centre in scoring position, and the QB scampered in from 12 yards out on the next play to make it 30-7 at the break.
- The 'Roos dominated the clock in the third quarter, thanks to an 18-play, 90-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown.
- Austin came up with an interception on Centre's next possession, but it failed to capitalize as Nate Johnson forced a fumble that Keanan John recovered for the Colonels.
- Dupper hit Murray on a 22-yard score to cap a 79-yard drive, and later found Greer Stone on an 8-yard TD pass to effectively end the contest.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dupper threw for 301 yards on just 11 completions, adding 64 yards via 11 rushes. Clark Payne also saw time behind center, completing 2 of 4 passes for 57 yards.
- Edwards ran 11 times for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Zarian Hunter Cure reeled off a 57-yard run in a reserve role.
- Murray had five catches for 140 yards, and Jay Becherer caught three for 139.
- Andre Evans led Centre with seven tackles, as Quinton Moss and Ty Houck followed with six each. Clayton Bell totaled two tackles for loss.
- Whitlow connected on 5 of 6 PATs and his lone field goal attempt.
- Centre averaged 10 yards per play and went 6 of 9 on third down conversions. The Colonels also scored on all six of their trips to the redzone.