Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
The No. 21 Centre College football team capped a regular season undefeated home schedule with a 27-0 win over Millsaps College on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Farris Stadium in Danville, Ky.
With the win, the Colonels remain undefeated at 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the SAA, and claim at least a share of the SAA Championship, with the chance to win the title outright next weekend. Millsaps falls to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in league play.
The game was also played as part of Senior Day, in which 20 members of the football program were recognized prior to the game.
The Centre defense had a big day forcing five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles), which led to 17 points, and recorded five tackles for loss, including four sacks, and seven pass break-ups.
After Millsaps regained possession at the 7:43 mark in the first quarter, senior Nick Dietz (Cincinnati, Ohio) intercepted the first play and returned it to the Millsaps 15-yard line.
Three plays later, senior Preston Cahill (Dry Ridge, Ky.) kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Colonels a 3-0 lead.
Cahill later added his second field goal, a 23-yarder, early in the second quarter, and Centre led 6-0.
With 3:33 remaining in the first half, sophomore Nolan Coulter (Knoxville, Tenn.) capped a five-play, 65-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run, and the Colonels took a 13-0 lead into the break.
The score stayed that way until midway through the fourth quarter. The Majors drove to the Centre eight-yard line, but on fourth and goal, junior Alex Mattingly (Louisville, Ky.) picked off a pass and returned it 17.
Following a rush for no gain on the next drive, senior quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.) found sophomore Rubyn Branch (Arlington, Tenn.), who turned the reception into an 82-yard touchdown grab and a 20-0 lead.
The defense put the game away in Millsaps' ensuing drive. A four-yard pass completion was fumbled, and sophomore Anthony Kersey (Winchester, Ky.) recovered and took it the distance to cap the scoring at 27-0.
The Colonels were out-gained 365-305 in total offensive yards, but committed only one turnover.
Haden finished the day 10 of 18 for 182 yards and a touchdown pass, and Coulter added 59 yards on the ground and another score.
Kersey led the defense with a team-high nine tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass break-up. Seniors Devon Freeman (Louisville, Ky.) and Nate Letton (Lexington, Ky.) had eight tackles apiece, with Freeman also adding a sack and a forced fumble.
Centre will look to complete an undefeated regular season Saturday, Nov. 15 against Birmingham Southern. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. CST.