LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Wins come in all shapes and sizes. Buck Buchanan now has 50 of them, and the latest addition to his collection was a low-scoring affair won in the trenches.
Hendrix welcomed the Rhodes Lynx to War Memorial Stadium on Saturday for a rematch of last year's 2OT thriller that saw the Warriors lose in heartbreaking fashion.
There would be no such heartbreak this time.
Auvic White and Kanyn Utley exploded for career highs, and the Warriors defense pitched its second shutout of the season to improve to 5-4 versus Rhodes in the modern era. The shutout is the Warriors' fourth in modern history and marks the first time that Hendrix has produced multiple shutouts in a single season since the program's resurrection in 2013. It is the second time in 3 seasons that Buchanan's Warriors have blanked the Lynx.
Hendrix put up 380 yards of total offense and out-rushed the Lynx 171-67. White rushed for a career-high 110 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry on 27 attempts.
Kanyn Utley caught 8 balls for 97 yards, both career highs, and his 21-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter was the lone score of the game.
Jacob Wood finished 20-32 in the air with 209 yards, adding 55 yards on the ground.
But when the Warriors needed it the most, it was the ground game that saw the game out. After Hendrix regained possession off a Mitchell Johnson forced fumble, the Warriors ate up the remaining 7:26 of clock by driving 75 yards behind the dominant offensive line of Jackson Boudrey, Henry Keeler, Matthew Winger, Cameron Deal, and James Medin. They did not give up a sack the entire night.
But it was not just the offensive line that dominated in the trenches. The Warrior defensive line was relentless all night, suffocating a Lynx rushing attack that was averaging just over 120 yards per game entering Saturday's contest and making life difficult for Rhodes quarterback Luke Macias, who recorded 105 yards in the air.
Mitchell Johnson led all defenders with 7 total tackles, while Connor Samples and Ryan Elrod each recorded a sack. Rhodes was limited to just 172 yards of total offense and 13 first downs. It is the least amount of yards the Warriors have given up since their shutout of the Austin 'Roos in the season opener.
In critical situations, Thomas Eddlemon's Blackshirt defense was able to get off the field after two key stops on 4th down, including a Jaden Davis pass breakup inside the red area late in the third quarter.
The Warriors improve to 3-6 (2-4) on the year. They will travel to Rome, Ga. next week for the season finale versus the Berry Vikings (6-3, 4-2 SAA). Kick off is set for 1:00 PM CT (2:00 PM ET)
