CONWAY - Hendrix marked the college's third Homecoming of the modern era with a 41-20 over Centenary on Saturday afternoon at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium.
After a slow start, the Warriors scored 34 unanswered points across five scoring drives from the second quarter into the fourth to define the game. The Warriors threw for 281 yards and five touchdowns and added 148 rushing yards, finishing with 24 first downs. The result moved the Warriors to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league play, while Centenary (LA) fell to 1-4 and 0-1.
Jake Blice completed 17 of 26 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
Westin Bruce caught six passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Brooks McGee added four receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Noah Jackson rushed 14 times for 91 yards and added one reception for 4 yards.
Centenary (LA) controlled possession in the first quarter, holding the ball for 11:03 and totaling 41 rushing yards and 30 passing yards while the Warriors finished with minus-2 rushing yards and 18 passing yards. The Warriors' defense limited the damage with multiple tackles for loss, but Centenary (LA) recorded two sacks, including Demetrus Gladney Jr.'s safety at 5:09, and led 2-0 after the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Warriors outscored Centenary (LA) 14-10, with Blice throwing touchdown passes of 36 and 40 yards to Bruce while the team finished with 97 passing yards in the quarter. Centenary (LA) scored 10 points off turnovers but went 0-for-5 on third down, and the Warriors added an interception and a blocked 42-yard field-goal attempt before taking a 14-12 lead into halftime.
The third quarter went 13-0 to the Warriors, with Blice throwing touchdown passes of 45 and 14 yards to McGee as the Warriors moved to a 27-12 lead. The Warriors completed all seven pass attempts for 108 yards and added 78 rushing yards, while their defense held Centenary (LA) to one rushing yard, 27 passing yards and 0-for-2 on third down in the quarter.
The Warriors outscored Centenary (LA) 14-8 in the fourth quarter, adding a
Demarkus Crain 1-yard rushing touchdown and a 24-yard
Josh Hayes touchdown pass to
Zo Payne to finish a 41-20 win. The Warriors went 3-for-5 passing for 58 yards and had 37 rushing yards in the quarter, while
Cash Gourley's interception helped offset a Centenary (LA) segment that included 72 rushing yards and a late Ahmad Garner touchdown.
The Warriors' first quarter turned on field position, as Blice was sacked in the end zone with 5:09 left for a Centenary (LA) safety and a 2-0 deficit. The Warriors picked up two first downs on their opening drive, including
Noah Jackson's third-and-2 conversion and Blice's 11-yard completion to McGee, but finished the quarter with 18 passing yards and minus-2 rushing yards. The defense kept Centenary (LA) from adding points after a muffed punt gave the visitors the ball at the Warriors' 28, with
Chandler Laurent and
Mason Johnson combining for a 3-yard loss on the final play to leave the score 2-0 after the first quarter.
The Warriors answered Centenary (LA)'s go-ahead touchdown with a six-play, 56-yard drive, converting fourth-and-1 before Blice hit Bruce for a 40-yard touchdown and
Clay Brandenburg's extra point put the Warriors ahead 14-12. Earlier, Blice and Bruce connected on a 36-yard touchdown to cap a three-play, 51-yard drive that gave the Warriors a 7-5 lead.
LaRon Johnson blocked a 42-yard field-goal attempt with 17 seconds left, and the Warriors finished the quarter in front 14-12.
The Warriors scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the third quarter, with Blice hitting McGee for 45 yards at 12:16 and 14 yards at 8:13 to move ahead 27-12 after
Clay Brandenburg's extra point. The defense kept Centenary (LA) scoreless in the quarter and forced two punts, including one after
Jacob Moody's 10-yard sack. The Warriors closed the quarter still in possession after starting at their 15 and reaching their 46, carrying a 27-12 lead into the fourth.
The Warriors turned their opening fourth-quarter possession into points, converting fourth-and-2 at the Centenary (LA) 46 before Crain scored from 1 yard out and
Clay Brandenburg's kick made it 34-12.
Cash Gourley intercepted a pass after a breakup by
Dentravius Woods on Centenary (LA)'s next drive, and
Jaedin Kim's 22-yard punt return later helped set up
Josh Hayes' 24-yard touchdown pass to Payne. Centenary (LA) scored in the final minute, but the Warriors closed out a 41-20 win.
