HANOVER, Ind. – The Centre football team began its 2024 season with a trip up north for a traditional rivalry matchup against the Hanover Panthers. The day belonged to the Colonels, who dominated the second half defensively on the way to a 27-12 victory.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
 
- The Colonels forced the Panthers into a three-and-out on the opening series of the game, but on the Hanover punt, a Centre penalty kept possession with the Panthers, and they capitalized, converting a swing pass for a touchdown on the very next play to go up 6-0 after a missed extra point.
- Later in the first quarter, the Colonels went on the march deep in their own territory as they started a drive on their own 11. Quarterback Jack Gohmann picked up 30 yards on a pair of runs, including a clutch 12-yard dash to convert a third down into Hanover territory. Gohmann got the Colonels into the red zone on a long pass to Carter Chandler and then fired a strike to Scotty Brown for a ten-yard score and a 7-6 Centre lead.
- The Panthers got on the doorstep of the end zone as the second quarter began, but nose tackle Carson Combs dropped into coverage and picked off a Hanover pass to keep Centre on top by a point.
- On Hanover's second drive of the second quarter, the Panthers reached the red zone after a handful of Centre penalties, but the Centre defense clamped down as Wyatt Fowler disrupted a broken play in the backfield on second down and stepped in for a sack on third down as Hanover was forced to kick a field goal.
- The ensuing Centre drive saw Gohmann hit high school teammate Blake Busson on a 37-yard connection to get into plus territory. Upon reaching the red zone, Chandler hauled in a Gohmann toss in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown and Centre regained the lead 14-9 going into the locker room at halftime.
- The Colonels got the ball to start the second half and embarked on a drive that ate up over eight minutes of game action. Facing a fourth down in no man's land, Gohmann connected with Tate Johnson for ten yards and a conversion. Centre converted another fourth down as Tyler Blythe stretched across the chains for a short run. The drive finally stalled at the Hanover 6, but Cam Tegge put the Colonels up 17-9 with a short field goal.
- Hanover answered the Centre score with a long drive at the end of the third quarter, reaching the red zone before stalling and settling for a field goal to make it 17-12 with 13 minutes to go.
- Centre ate up over five minutes of clock on their next drive, converting three third downs, including a leaping catch by Dant Bowling on 3rd & 18 before an interception gave the ball back to the Panthers with less than eight minutes left.
- The Panthers looked to have momentum firmly in their favor after converting 3rd & 19 near midfield, but a deflected pass fell into the welcoming arms of Brooks Sapone, who returned the ball to the 50, killing the drive.
- After a Hanover personal foul started the Centre drive on the Panthers' 35, Gohmann found Damon Edwards on a post for 19 yards. Blythe then took an inside handoff for ten more yards and another first down. A sack of Gohmann was negated by another personal foul, resetting the Colonels with goal to go from the Hanover 8 with precious seconds ticking off the clock.
- The penalty proved costly for the Panthers as on the next play, Brown found a soft spot in the middle of the defense and Gohmann lofted it to him for a touchdown to give Centre a 24-12 lead with just under three minutes left.
- The Centre defense put the exclamation point on the day as Jack Mileham and Mario Brewer Jr. delivered consecutive sacks on the Panthers' next drive to force a turnover on downs. After Hanover exhausted the allotment of timeouts, Tegge added a short field goal to cap off the scoring for the day and Ronnie Howard's diving interception sealed the victory for the Colonels.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
- Gohmann had an efficient day at quarterback, going 25-39 for 259 yards and three touchdowns versus one interception. His 40 rushing yards also represented a game high.
- The Centre defense held the Panthers to a net total of -23 rushing yards thanks to six quarterback sacks. They also forced three interceptions and limited the Hanover offense to three points in the second half. Five different Centre defenders recorded at least half a sack, led by Brewer with two.
- 11 different Centre players caught passes on the day as Gohmann shared the wealth. Chandler and Brown tied for the game high with four receptions each.
 
NEXT UP
 
Centre football will host its home opener against Maryville under the lights at Andy Frye Stadium on Sept. 14.