CONWAY, Ark. - Hendrix travels to RV/RV Centre (Ky.) as both teams open Southern Athletic Asssociation (SAA) play Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon CT.

Along with live statistics, the game is televised online via SIDEARM Sports.
 

Game 4/Hendrix (1-2, 0-0 SAA) at RV/RV Centre (3-0, 0-0 SAA)
Saturday, Oct. 2 • 12 p.m. CT
Danville, Ky. • Farris Stadium
TV (Internet): SIDEARM Sports
Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports

SERIES INFORMATION
Meeting: Eighth.
Series Record: Hendrix trails 5-2 (L3).
Last Meeting: Centre 37, Hendrix 34 (OT; Oct. 19, 2019; at Hendrix).
First Meeting: Centre 49, Hendrix 20 (Nov. 2, 2013; at Centre).
Last Meeting in Conway: Centre 37, Hendrix 34 (OT; Oct. 19, 2019).
First Meeting in Conway: Centre 35, Hendrix 26 (Nov. 1, 2014).
Last Hendrix win in Conway: Hendrix 35, Centre 28 (Oct. 1, 2016).
Hendrix Record in Conway: 1-3 (L2).
Last Meeting in Danville: Centre 52, Hendrix 42 (Sept. 16, 2017).
First Meeting in Danville: Centre 49, Hendrix 20 (Nov. 2, 2013).
Last Hendrix win in Danville: Hendrix 51, Centre 48 (Oct. 3, 2015).
Hendrix Record in Danville: 1-2 (L1).
Hendrix Record at Neutral Site: 0-0.
Head Coach Buck Buchanan vs. Centre: 2-5 (L3).

ABOUT HENDRIX

The Warriors are coming off a 49-27 non-conference win over Sewanee (Tenn.) on Sept. 25 at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium. Parker Wells came off the bench to throw for 295 yards on 17-of-21 passing and six touchdowns, all season-highs. The Warriors have scored at least 47 points in their last four wins in the series. In Hendrix single-game history, Wells was second in passing yards gained per attempt (14.0), passer rating (293.2) and highest average gain per play (12.3; minimum 20 plays), tied for third in touchdown passes (6), sixth in yards per completion (17.4) and tied for eighth in completion percentage (81 percent; minimum 10 attempts). All were season-highs. Wells' passer rating was the fifth best in Division III this season. His six touchdown passes tied for fifth most. Wells compiled a season-high 307 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. His seventh score, a 39-yard touchdown run on 4th and 2 with less than six minutes to play in the fourth quarter, was negated on a holding penalty. Chris Childress' three touchdown receptions tied for the most in Hendrix history, and his three touchdowns tied for ninth most touchdowns scored. He ended the day with five catches for 100 yards. Childress' three receiving touchdowns tied for sixth best in Division III this year. Bennett Ellis' six extra points made were a season-high and tied for fifth most in a game in Hendrix history. Hendrix's 57 carries were the fourth most in a game in school history, while its 300 rushing yards marked the seventh highest total and most since totaling 354 against the Tigers in the last contest between the teams Nov. 16, 2019. The 263.5 passer rating was second highest (minimum 11 attempts), 12.6 yards per pass attempt ranked third highest, six touchdown passes tied for third most, 16.8 yards per completion, 81 all-purpose attempts and seven touchdowns each tied for seventh most and 49 points tied for ninth most. Colton Phillips ended with a season-high seven catches and career-highs in receiving yards (145) and touchdowns (2) for the Warriors. It was the first game of his career to break the century mark. Jacob Bremmon recorded his second-career interception against Sewanee, which has lost 15 games in a row, the third longest active streak in Division III. Like Wells, Quentin Tolbert posted career-bests off the bench in rushes (18) and rushing yards (123), the first time in his career to eclipse the century mark. Tolbert's first collegiate rushing touchdown came from one yard out to make the score 49-20 less than two minutes into the fourth quarter. Caleb Williams totaled 69 yards on 15 carries in the triumph. Connor Beard's first-career touchdown reception, a 24-yard catch and run, came with 11:20 to play in the third quarter, making the score 28-13. Hendrix compiled 603 yards of total offense, 303 through the air and 300 on the ground. Buchanan's bunch converted 64.3 percent (9-of-15) on third down and held the ball for 34:47. Defensively, Seth Hakanson recorded seven tackles. Timothy Curran was credited with a sack in the victory, while Hakanson and Nathan Hahn each had half a sack. Mitchell Johnson had 1.5 tackles for loss. Joshua Cole had 1.0, while Ethan Armour, Hunter Lawrence and Riley McMurren each had 0.5. Armour, Johnson, Matthew Scirto, Ronnie McShan and Nick Johnson each deflected a pass. Armour, Curran and Connor Samples each had a quarterback hurry. Hendrix limited the Tigers to just 2.2 yards per carry and 52 total, its fewest allowed since also giving up only 52 to Berry (Ga.) on March 13, 2021. Wells entered the game at the 11:46 mark of the second quarter and proceeded to lead Hendrix on seven-straight touchdown drives. He connected with Childress from 23 yards out to put the Warriors ahead 7-6 with 9:28 left before halftime. Hendrix closed the first half with two touchdowns on its final two series. Wells hit Phillips on a 22-yard touchdown pass at the 4:47 mark. On its next series, after two negative plays resulted in a loss of 27 yards and gave Hendrix a 3rd and goal from the Tigers 31, a strike from Wells to Childress as time expired made the score 21-13 at intermission. The Warriors forced a three and out on Sewanee's first offensive series of the second half. An eight-yard punt gave Hendrix the ball on the Tigers 32, and Wells finished the drive with a 10-yard scoring toss to Childress, making the score 35-13 with 8:47 left in the period. Two plays into Sewanee's next possession, Bremmon made a diving interception, giving the Warriors the ball at the Tigers 43. Buchanan's offense needed only three plays and 1:03 to hit paydirt for the sixth time Saturday, as Wells connected with Phillips from 26 yards out. Hendrix's final scoring drive, which lasted 11 plays and 68 yards and took 4:53 off the clock, featured eight runs. The series started with a 19-yard scamper by Tolbert and included an 18-yard run by Anthony Johnson. After Tolbert's rushing touchdown, Slate Stanton converted his first collegiate extra point to give his squad a 29-point advantage with 13:20 to go. The Tigers' final three offensive drives, with two coming inside the Warriors 31, ended with a Drake Bacchus fumble recovery, punt following a sack by Hakanson and Hahn and time expiring.

Buchanan is five wins shy of 50 for his career.

Childress has seven receiving touchdowns this season, which is tied for fifth most in program history. He needs two touchdown catches to move into third place on the school's single-season list.

Childress' eight-career touchdown receptions are eighth most all-time for the Orange and Black. He needs two touchdown receptions to move into seventh place and three to move into a tie for fifth.

Phillips is 16 receptions shy of moving into seventh place on the school's all-time list.

Bremmon has eight-career picks, which is tied for second in program history and two shy of breaking the school record.

Scirto has 21 pass breakups in his career, which ranks second in Hendrix history. He is four shy of breaking the school's all-time mark.

Hendrix ranks second in the SAA and 47th nationally in 4th down conversion percentage (0.625). The Warriors also rank second in the SAA and 83rd nationally in first downs (68), second in the league and 63rd in the country in passing yards per game (254.0), third in the SAA and 86th nationally in yards per completion (13.14), third in the league and 47th in the country in passing efficiency (154.96), third in the SAA and 57th in the nation in total offense per game (413.0) and fourth in the conference and 61st in Division III in scoring offense (34.3). 

Defensively, Hendrix ranks second in the SAA in interceptions (3) and third in forced turnovers (4).

Tajae White ranks second in the SAA and fifth nationally in kickoff return yards (349), second in the conference and 31st in Division III in punt return average (11.2), third in the league and 29th in the country in kickoff return average (26.6) and fifth in the SAA and 69th nationally in all-purpose yards per game (127.67).

Wells ranks second in the SAA and 59th nationally in passing touchdowns (6).

Childress leads the SAA and ranks fourth nationally in receiving touchdowns (7), leads the conference and ranks 48th in Division III in receiving yards per game (96.3), leads the league and ranks 70th in the country in receiving yards (289), ranks second in the SAA and 10th nationally in scoring per game (14.0), second in the league and 15th nationally in points (42) and touchdowns (7) and third in the SAA in yards per reception (18.06).

Phillips is third in the SAA in receiving yards (237), receiving yards per game (79.0) and receptions per game (5.7). He ranks fifth in the league in receiving touchdowns (2).

Johnson ranks third in the SAA and 88th nationally in solo tackles per game (5.0) and fourth in the league and 62nd in the country in total tackles per game (9.3).

Phillips ranks third in program history in receptions per game (4.25) with a minimum of 15 games. He ranks eighth in receptions (85) and receiving yards (812).

Ellis ranks third in Hendrix history in extra points made (26) and attempted (30).

Carter Weakley ranks second in program history in kickoff return average (27.5) with a minimum of 10 returns.

Weakley ranks sixth in program history in kickoff return yards (385), while White is eighth (293). Weakley is seventh in kickoff returns (14), and White is ninth (11).

McShan ranks third in Hendrix history in interception return yards (131), while Dalton Lindelof is fourth (110).

Buchanan's 95-member squad is represented by five states - Texas (46), Arkansas (40), Louisiana (4), Tennessee (3) and Oklahoma (2).


ABOUT CENTRE

The Colonels are coming off a 14-7 win at home over Trine (Ind.) on Sept. 25. Centre's only touchdowns came in the third quarter, the first a three-yard pass from Trentin Dupper to Jacob  Gunter with 10:13 on the clock. Dupper put his team ahead 14-0 with 13 seconds left on a five-yard touchdown run. Dupper finished with 309 yards of total offense, leading the team in passing yards (192 on 15-of-28 through the air with a touchdown) and rushing yards (117 on 16 carries and a touchdown). Gunter caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Armon Wells totaled 11 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Centre's defense held Trine to 95 yards on 31 attempts while also limiting the Thunder to 16-of-46 passing for 149 yards.

Centre leads the SAA and ranks 36th nationally in 4th down conversion percentage (0.667), ranks second in the league and 50th in the country in completion percentage (0.628), second in the SAA and 44th nationally in passing efficiency (155.97), second in the SAA and 38th nationally in time of possession (32:45), third in the SAA and 55th nationally in rushing offense (183.3) and third in the SAA and 43rd in the country in scoring offense (36.7).

Centre ranks second in the SAA and 47th nationally in rushing defense (86.7), second in the SAA and 48th nationally in red zone defense (0.667), third in the SAA and 77th nationally in scoring defense (20.7) and third in the league and 78th nationally in total defense (308.3).

Centre leads the SAA and ranks eighth nationally in kickoff return average (31.43).

Jay Becherer leads the SAA and ranks second nationally in kickoff return average (40.0).

Nick German leads the SAA and ranks 27th nationally in pass breakups per game (1.7).

Dupper ranks second in the SAA in completion percentage (0.634), total offense (309.3), passing efficiency (160.0), passing touchdowns (7) and points responsible for (60) and third in passing yards (668), yards per completion (12.85), yards per pass attempt (8.15), rush yards per carry (6.05) and rushing touchdowns (3). Nationally he ranks 24th in total offense, 29th in passing efficiency, 40th in completion percentage, 43rd in points responsible for and rush yards per carry, 50th in yards per pass attempt and 59th in passing touchdowns.

Wells leads the nation in solo tackles per game (9.3), leads the SAA and ranks 10th in the country in tackles for loss per game (2.3), and leads the conference and ranks 11th nationally in total tackles per game (11.3).

LAST MEETING

Hendrix lost to Centre, 37-34 in overtime, in SAA action at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium on Oct. 19, 2019. With Hendrix trailing by three with 2:05 left in regulation, Sandy Burks capped off a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a 19-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime. Burks made a 29-yard field goal on Hendrix's first possession in overtime, but Centre scored a 21-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-16. For the fourth time this season, the Warriors scored on its opening possession as Kip VanHoose rushed into the end zone from 12 yards out with 10:12 left in the opening quarter. After the Colonels tied the game after one play on offense, Chad McGonigal recorded his second collegiate receiving touchdown with 12:54 left until halftime to give Hendrix the 14-7 edge. Centre tied the game up but not before VanHoose scored from 18 yards out with under four minutes left until halftime to give the Warriors the seven-point cushion. Centre scored off a special teams play after Stone Paul forced a fumble on a punt return and a Colonel scooped the ball up and rushed into the end zone with 29 seconds left until the break. Centre took the 28-21 edge with 7:00 left in the third quarter, but McGonigal tied it up after recording his second touchdown reception of the day with 4:22 left in the third. The Colonels took a three-point lead with 5:32 left in regulation after making a 39-yard field goal. Miles Thompson completed 24-of-42 for 243 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries. VanHoose rushed for 78 yards on 21 attempts with two scores. McGonigal accounted for 92 receiving yards on seven catches with two touchdowns, while Phillips caught six passes for 72 yards. Hendrix finished with 392 yards of total offense. Scirto and Johnson eac finished with the game with 11 tackles. Tanner Hartsfield recorded the lone interception by either team, returning it 21 yards to the Centre 10-yard line with five minutes left in the third quarter. Paul recorded the lone forced fumble, while Jared Bazley recorded 1.5 sacks. Scirto also broke up two passes.


EXTRA POINTS

Hendrix's only win at Centre was exactly six years ago (Oct. 3, 2015) Saturday.

The only Hendrix game which has ever gone to overtime occurred in the last meeting in 2019.

The Warriors have won two-straight SAA openers, with their last loss in such a situation coming in 2018 against Centre.

Bremmon had an interception against Centre in 2018, the second-straight week he had an interception against an opponent from that season. 

Two Warriors faced as many Centre players in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) state playoffs.
 
• Jaden Davis (WR, Fr.), from Christian Brothers High School, competed against Centre's Caleb Jones (DB, So.), from McCallie High School, in the 2019 TSSAA Division II Class AAA quarterfinals.
• Jones Casper (TE, Sr.), from Christian Brothers High School, competed against German (DB, Jr.), from Montgomery Bell Academy, three times in the TSSAA state playoffs - 2017 Division II Class AAA semifinals, 2016 Division II AA quarterfinals and 2015 Division II AA semifinals.


SOUTHERN EVALS

Southern EVALS, a healthcare compliance consulting firm based in Pineville, La., is a proud sponsor of the Hendrix Warriors.