DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre football opened the 2021 season in style Saturday evening, running past Hanover, 56-34, under the lights at Farris Stadium.
 
The Colonels (1-0) stretch their win streak over the Panthers (0-1) to eight in a row. Hanover entered the game receiving votes in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25.
 
Several individuals stood out for the Gold and White, including quarterback Trentin Dupper, who amassed 307 yards of offense and five touchdowns. Defensively, Armon Wells turned in a stellar 18-tackle outing that included a sack and forced fumble.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre couldn't have asked for a better opening to the game. Wells and Keanan John came up with sacks to force an early three-and-out, and the offense scored just three plays later on a scamper from Trentin Dupper.
- Hanover controlled much of the rest of the first quarter, but a pair of failed kicks – one PAT and one field goal try – helped the Colonels.
- Dupper connected for 30-plus-yard gains following the missed field goal, the first to Cort Marbaugh and the second to Sam Murray for a touchdown that made it 14-6 following the PAT.
- Wells forced a fumble and John came away with the ball, setting up a short field for the Centre offense. Dupper found Murray just four plays later for another score to make it 21-6 with 10 minutes remaining before half.
- Hanover got back on the board the following drive, but Centre's second-quarter offensive momentum continued, resulting in a two-yard plunge from Patric Edwards for his first rushing touchdown of the season.
- The Panthers sandwiched a pair of touchdowns around the halftime break, pulling within 28-26 at one point in the third quarter.
- Centre quickly answered with 14 more points. Dupper found Jordan Gunter for an 18-yard strike and Edwards hit paydirt again, pushing the margin back to 42-26.
- The Colonels put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, as Dupper and Edwards each provided gutsy touchdown runs.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre totaled 436 yards of offense to Hanover's 430, and went a perfect 7-for-7 on redzone chances.
- Dupper went 16 of 22 for 235 yards and three touchdowns, adding 72 yards on the ground for two scores.
- Edwards bagged a trio of touchdowns, carrying the ball 23 times for 94 yards.
- Seven individuals caught at least one pass for the Colonels. Cort Marbaugh led the way with five catches for 85 yards. Marbaugh, Gunter, Murray and Greer Stone each hauled in a pass for 25 yards or more.
- Wells was all over the field for Centre's defense, accounting for 18 stops, a sack and forced fumble. Cole Arendsen had five tackles, including two for loss, and Dallas Douglas and Joseph Becherer joined Wells and John with one sack apiece.
- Centre had four touchdown drives that took less than two minutes.
- Cam Tegge was a perfect 8-for-8 on point after attempts in his collegiate debut.
- Nick Kopp totaled 181 yards on six punts, with a long of 50 yards.
- Jay Becherer took four kick returns 167 yards, including a 65-yarder.
 
UP NEXT
Centre takes on Maryville (Tenn.) next Saturday on the road at 1 p.m. The Scots, who fell 20-14 today against Berry, are coached by former Centre offensive coordinator, Ben Fox.