MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hendrix lost to Rhodes 24-17 on Saturday evening at Crain Field.
The Warriors threw for 312 yards and finished with 373 yards of total offense, but Rhodes had 331 passing yards. On defense, Hendrix recorded five sacks and eight tackles for loss, helping limit Rhodes to just 18 rushing yards.
Jake Blice completed 23 of 36 passes for 291 yards and added a rushing touchdown.
Westin Bruce caught nine passes for 112 yards to lead the Warriors in receiving.
Beckett Moore recorded a team-high 17 tackles, while
Dylan Stewart finished with three tackles and two sacks.
The Warriors finished the first quarter with 59 passing yards and 13 rushing yards, while Rhodes threw for 123 yards, converted 3 of 4 third downs and had six first downs.
Rhodes did most of its second-quarter damage through the air, completing 13 of 15 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns while converting 2 of 3 third downs. The Warriors answered with
Jake Blice's 8-yard rushing touchdown and finished the quarter 6-for-8 passing for 64 yards, but Rhodes outscored the Warriors 14-7 in the quarter and led 21-7 at halftime.
The Warriors produced the third quarter's only points on
Kobey Wall's 5-yard touchdown run and
Clay Brandenburg's PAT, trimming Rhodes' lead to 21-14 by the end of the third quarter. The Warriors threw for 116 yards and totaled seven first downs in the quarter, while their defense limited Rhodes to 5 rushing yards with sacks by Stewart and
Chris Robinson. Hendrix's defense also held firm with a crucial fourth-down stop late in the third quarter at their own 29-yard line.
The fourth quarter was even on the scoreboard at 3-3, but Rhodes held the ball for 9:09 and finished off a 24-17 win. The Warriors generated 73 passing yards and all four of their first downs through the air in the quarter, with
Clay Brandenburg's 27-yard field goal with 54 seconds left capping a 10-play, 69-yard drive.
The Warriors were held scoreless in the first quarter as Rhodes moved ahead on Brennan Keim's 46-yard touchdown pass to Dunaven Kurak and the ensuing PAT for a 7-0 score. On the Warriors' next series, Blice connected with
Kobey Wall for 18 yards before
Josh Gil pinned Rhodes at its 7 with a 30-yard punt. The Warriors' defense later added hurries by
Tristian Johnson and
Dentravius Woods on a Rhodes possession that ended with a missed 42-yard field goal, and Rhodes led 7-0 after the first quarter.
The Warriors answered Rhodes' early touchdown with a 65-yard drive, as Blice completed four passes for first downs before running in from 8 yards, and
Clay Brandenburg's PAT made it 14-7 with 8:20 left in the second quarter.
Christian Roberts dropped a Rhodes completion for a 4-yard loss on the next possession to help force a punt, but the Warriors' following drive stalled near midfield. Rhodes scored again with 10 seconds left, and the Warriors finished the quarter trailing 21-7.
The Warriors stopped Rhodes on fourth-and-5 from the Warriors' 29, taking over at the 25 and answering with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Wall capped it with a 5-yard run, and
Clay Brandenburg's PAT made it 21-14. The defense added sacks from Stewart and Robinson, and the Warriors ended the third quarter at the Rhodes 27 while trailing 21-14.
The Warriors' main push came on a late 10-play, 69-yard drive, as Blice hit Bruce for 14 yards and
Jaedin Kim for gains of 23 and 16 before
Clay Brandenburg made a 27-yard field goal with 54 seconds left to cut Rhodes' lead to 24-17. Earlier, the Warriors' defense produced sacks by Stewart and
Tristian Johnson on one Rhodes possession, then later forced a short field goal after Rhodes reached the Warriors' 2. Rhodes took over at the Warriors' 47 after the onside kickoff and ran out the clock.
Up next, Hendrix will travel to Batesville to take on Lyon College in the final regular season contest before the SCAC Championship weekend at War Memorial Stadium.
