SHERMAN, Texas - The Rhodes College football team kicked off their season with a 34-13 beating of Austin College on Saturday.
 
Rhodes started off their scoring with a 71 yard run by Junior Roc Sherrell on the Lynx first offensive drive.  Junior quarterback Blake Box followed up Sherrell's run with two passing touchdowns, one to his brother Brandon Box and the other to tight end Hogan Crosby. Blake Box had a very efficient first half, completing 8-11 passes to go along with his two touchdowns, while Sherrell ended the half with 108 rushing yards and a touchdown.
 
The Lynx defense was stiff in the first half, allowing only 51 yards on the ground for the half. Michael Shield led the Lynx with nine tackles in the first half, and the Rhodes front seven tacked on six tackles for loss in the half. Senior defensive tackle Tyler Cummings had a forced fumble to go along with his tackle for loss, which was recovered by fellow defensive tackle DJ Walker. 
 
Austin College cut the lead to 21-7 with a touchdown late in the second half, but with ten seconds left Rhodes return man Gerald Perry took the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for the touchdown, to make the halftime score 27-6 in favor of the Lynx.
 
The Rhodes defense stepped up once again to start off the second half, stopping the Roos on a fourth and four from inside the ten yard line on a pass break up by sophomore Raevon Felton. The Roos threatened to score again on the very next drive but were once more shut down by the Rhodes secondary, with senior Justin Tolliver intercepting a Noah Jesko pass on the one yard line. 
 
The Rhodes offense struggled to open the second half, punting on three straight possessions. With under a minute gone in the fourth quarter, Roos running back Bryce Murphy scored on a 14 yard touchdown run to cut the Lynx lead to 14, 27-13. Rhodes responded with a nine play, 64 yard drive in which Blake Box completed five of six passes, as well as running for a two yard touchdown that put the Lynx back ahead by three touchdowns, 34-13, which is what ended up being the final tally.  
 
The Rhodes offense finished the day with a very balanced attack, with 148 yards through the air from Blake Box and 168 yards on the ground, with Roc Sherrell leading the way with 144 yards and a score. The Lynx defense was led by junior linebacker Michael Shield, who had 13 tackles, one of which was a tackle for loss, as well as Justin Tolliver, who had eight tackles and an interception.   
Rhodes will look to continue their hot start next Saturday with their home opener against Washington University in St. Louis, at 6 pm at Crain Field in the Lynx first ever night contest.