HANOVER, Ind. – The Centre football team kicked off its 2022 season with the traditional season opener against the Hanover Panthers. A lightning delay midway through the third quarter forced the rest of the action to Sunday afternoon. Centre used an offensive explosion late in the third quarter and some timely defensive stops to hold on for a dramatic 31-29 victory over the Panthers.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
- Hanover quickly marched down the field thanks to a long pass play on third down that put the Panthers inside the Centre 10-yard line, and they punched it in on the next play, but Jack Colosimo blocked the extra point attempt to make it 6-0.
- Centre followed with their best drive of the first half, mixing the run and the pass to go 56 yards in ten plays, capped off by a goal line plunge from Keaton Martin for a 7-6 Centre lead.
- The Centre defense took advantage of Hanover miscues as the Colonels recorded interceptions on consecutive drives, courtesy of Ezra Dillard and Jack Colosimo. However, the offense was unable to capitalize and Hanover regained possession with a sack and fumble that put the ball into Centre territory. Hanover took advantage of the short field, going 32 yards in seven plays and retaking the lead on a touchdown pass from Matthew Weimer to Hunter Eads late in the first quarter.
- With Centre driving at the start of the second period, the Panthers intercepted a pass off a deflection to stop a march that had gotten just outside of the Hanover red zone. The Panthers drove down to Centre's 13 and faced 4th and 1, but a botched snap resulted in a change of possession and a dodged bullet for the Colonels.
- The defense came alive midway through the second quarter to kill a Hanover drive. Dallas Douglas sacked Weimer on first down, and then Oliver Hunter and Duerell Bard met at the quarterback on third down to push the Panthers back across the other side of the 50.
- Both teams traded interceptions late in the second quarter, with Justin Gainey picking off a Hanover pass that set the Colonels up at their own 42 with less than a minute to go.
- Nick Osterman rushed for 36 yards on consecutive plays to get Centre within field goal range, and Cam Tegge connected on a career-long 41-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 13-10 at the half.
- With the second half came a downpour and eventually a thunderstorm, as play was stopped and eventually suspended with 7:41 left in the third quarter and Centre just outside the red zone. When play resumed on Sunday, the Centre drive got new life after a Hanover penalty and Will McDaniel took in in from five yards out to put the Colonels back on top.
- On the first play of Hanover's next series, Joseph Becherer forced a fumble and Hunter recovered to give the Colonels a short field.
- The Colonels did not take long to pounce on the turnover as Osterman found Cort Marbaugh on a go route for a 28-yard score to make it 24-13.
- Following a Hanover field goal, it only took Centre two plays to get back on the scoreboard as Martin broke a tackle at midfield on a sweep and was untouched the rest of the way for a 57-yard dash to paydirt and a 31-16 lead for the Colonels.
- Hanover scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and threatened on their second drive of the period as they got deep into Centre territory, but Colosimo came through with his second pick of the day to slam the door on the drive.
- With five minutes left, Hanover embarked on a long drive that resulted in a touchdown on 4th & goal. The Panthers went for a two-point conversion to tie the game, but the Centre defensive line was not fooled on the jet sweep as Hunter made the stop in the backfield to preserve the 31-29 lead. Hanover's last chance was an onside kick that fell into the arms of Cole Littleton, who fell on the ball to secure the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

- After a shaky start, the Centre offense came alive in the third period as they outscored 21-3 once play resumed. The Colonels outgained the Panthers 240-99 in the period.
- The Colonels won the turnover battle, forcing four interceptions and the critical fumble late in the third quarter.
- Osterman went 13-26 for 135 yards and a score in his first collegiate start while also running for 57 yards, helping set up the field goal at the end of the first half.
- Martin's two touchdowns on the ground were the first scores of his career, and his 57-yard sprint was his longest run as a Colonel.
- Defensively, Armon Wells posted a game high 11 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
- Hunter finished with seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in addition to making the huge stop on the final two-point attempt.
- Colosimo was all over the field, recording the first two interceptions of his career as well as what turned out to be a critical blocked PAT on Hanover's first touchdown drive.
 
NEXT UP
 
Centre football will play its home opener on Sept. 10 as the Maryville Scots come to town for a 7:00 PM kickoff. The game will be played at Danville High School. Centre has won the last three matchups against the Scots since resuming the series in 2018, including a 40-21 win in Tennessee last season.