Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rhodes football finished its regular season with a bang, topping Millsaps 49-30 and winning a share of the Southern Athletic Association regular season title.
 
Rhodes improves to 8-2 and 5-1 in the conference, a best start since the 1988 squad went 8-2, advancing to the NCAA playoffs. Millsaps was handed its first loss of the season, and fell to 9-1 and 5-1 in league play.
 
The Lynx claimed dominance from the get go, as Rhodes got out to 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a leaping touchdown rush from quarterback Blake Box. Rhodes continued their scoring stretch, finding the back of the endzone in the first six seconds of the second quarter when Box complete a pass to Charles Schneider, who then ran the ball 23-yards for the touchdown, and 14-0 lead.
 
Millsaps found an answer at the 10 minute mark of the second quarter, when Zak Thrasher completed a pass to Trevor King. Rhodes defense went to work and Michael Shield came up with a block on the point after attempt.
 
On the very next drive Rhodes had a response as Dane Wilson had a touchdown-pass to Charles Schneider to give the Lynx the 21-6 point edge.  Millsaps made a 37-yard field goal attempt to end the half, making the halftime total, 21-9.
 
Rhodes came out of the half and surged to another touchdown in the Lynx' opening drive. Jonathan Wiener had a 41-yard return off the opening kickoff, and Box and the offense went to work and came up with a touchdown, Box' second rushing score of the day.  
 
Millsaps had an answer at the 3:42 mark when Mike Barthelemy rushed for a touchdown and with the extra point good, Millsaps moved closer with a score of 28-16.
 
The final quarter proved to be a high scoring affair as Rhodes' Box again found the endzone off a quarterback rush, scoring his third touchdown. The Lynx' defense held tough and John Dodd came up with a Rhodes interception at the 4:35 mark. Rhodes capitalized, turning the turnover into points when Wilson rushed 18 yard for the Rhodes score, making the count 42-16 after a made extra point from Tucker Nichols.
Rhodes would see the Majors score again with 1:54 left in the contest, but a botched two point attempt gave the Lynx the 42-22 edge.
 
The Lynx' defense again came up big as Rhodes padded their lead with a Shield pick-six, as he intercepted a Thrasher pass and ran it back 40-yards for a Lynx touchdown.   
 
Rhodes couldn't contain its excitement and were awarded several excessive celebration penalties.  Millsaps was able to find its way back into the red-zone and scored in the waning minutes of the contest making the final count 49-30.
 
Rhodes was led in offense by Box, who had three rushing touchdowns, and one touchdown throw. Wilson picked up 76-yards on the day while Kevin Vieira rushed for 35-yards. Schneider added two touchdown catches on the day for a total of 57-yards.
 
Shield helped lead the defense, with two interceptions, one for a touchdown and nine total tackles. The freshmen also added a tackle for loss, and had a blocked field goal. A host of Lynx led the defense with nine tackles, including Joseph Raby, Dodd, and Stanton Brown. Zac Hart also added seven tackles and one sack for a loss of seven yards.
 
With the win, the Lynx earn a share of the SAA Conference title with the Majors as both teams finish the 2013 season with a 5-1 league record. Both squads will await word on a potential trip to the NCAA D III Championships.