MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Rhodes College Lynx opened up the scoring with 35 straight points, and finish with a 35-14 homecoming victory over conference foe Centre College Saturday at Crain Field.
 
With the win, the Lynx improve to 6-1 on the season the best start in over a decade for Rhodes, with an undefeated 3-0 conference record. Centre College drops to 5-2, 2-1 in conference play.
 
The Lynx helped their cause with some huge scoring plays, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Blake Box went to work on the ground, running for a 56-yard touchdown run early in the first half.
 
Later in the second half, a tipped pass from Centre quarterback Haden was picked off by freshman cornerback John Dodd, and Dodd then returned it 100-yards untouched for a touchdown. The 100-yard return marks a record for longest interception return in Rhodes' school history.  
 
Rhodes was led on offense by quarterback Blake Box, who accounted for three Lynx scores, two through the air and one on the ground. Box threw for 147 yards, while also leading Rhodes with 95 rushing yards, which was a game high. Running back Kevin Vieira pitched in 61 rushing yards and a score for Rhodes.
 
The Lynx defense was stellar, holding Centre scoreless in the first half. The Lynx forced Centre into five turnovers, three of which were interceptions. Along with Dodd's pick-six, linebackers Joe Raby and Michael Shield both had interceptions of their own.
 
Shield led the defense with ten tackles, which included 3.5 for a loss and one sack. Raby contributed 9.5 tackles and played great coverage throughout the game.
 
The Rhodes defense never allowed Centre quarterback Heath Haden to get comfortable, providing pressure that Haden had to try and escape from all day. The lynx had four sacks, and forced Haden into two fumbles, which the Lynx recovered.
 
Centre scored their two touchdowns off a pair of runs, both in the fourth quarter by Harry Meisner and Heath Haden.
 
The Rhodes football team will be back in action next week in Birmingham, Alabama to take on rival Birmingham Southern on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.