SEWANEE, Tenn. - For the fifth straight year, the Edmund Orgill Cup will return to Rhodes College as they racked up 683 yards of total offense to roll past the Sewanee Tigers in a convincing 36-21 win on Saturday afternoon at Hardee-McGee Field.
It is the fifth straight win in the rivalry for Rhodes and the 10th in the last years.
Sophomore
P.J. Settles threw for 384 yards and two scores and rushed for 108, senior
Roc Sherrell rushed for 162 yards and two scored on 14 carries while adding a 31 yard touchdown catch, and senior
Brandon Box hauled in eight catches for 190 yards.
The 683 yards of total offense set a new Southern Athletic Association record for total yards in game, previously owned by Hendrix College, who had 618 total yards of offense against Westminster in 2014. Box's 190 receiving yards is also a new SAA record, breaking Austin Jones of Centre's record of 173 vs. Bethany in 2013.
Not to be outdone, the Rhodes defense also came to play on Saturday afternoon, limiting the Tiger offense to 235 total yards and seven punts. Rhodes held Sewanee to 4 of 13 on third down.
The Tigers would get the home crowd going as they went 65 yards in seven plays results in a Sam Hearn touchdown run from six yards out for the early 7-0 lead. Rhodes responded with an impressive 12 play, 81 yard drive with Settles getting it done through the air and with his feet. Sherrell cashed in with a 27 yard scamper to pay dirt to tie the game at seven.
The Lynx defense keyed in for the rest of the half, not allowing another first down and forcing four 3-and-outs.
The Rhodes offense was explosive all throughout the half. On their next drive, the Lynx drove quickly as sophomore
Josh Lucas hauled in a 33 yard pass from Settles followed by a beautifully designed screen pass from Settles to Sherrell, who ran 31 yards for a score to make it 14-7.
In the second quarter, another long, back-breaking drive put the Lynx in complete control as the running of Sherrell and Settles as well as some big completions from Settles moved Rhodes down the field. On a 3rd and long, Settles connected with Box from 20 yards out to extend the lead to 20-7.
Rhodes would end the half with a 14 play, 79 yard drive before the break resulting in a 29 yard field goal as time expired from junior
Kyle Edmiston to make it 23-7 at the break.
The Lynx would take the opening kickoff, and this time, make quick work in their first drive. Sherrell took the first snap of the half and sprinted 64 yards for a score to put the game out of reach at 30-7.
Sewanee would get a score back, thanks in part to 30 yards in penalties including a roughing the kicker, to make it 30-14, but Edmiston's field goal from 32 yards out put the lead at 33-14.
The Rhodes defense continued to shut Sewanee's offense down and another field goal from Edmiston moved the score to 36-14 in the fourth. A late score from the Tigers made the game a little bit closer, but there was no doubt who taking the cup home on Saturday afternoon as the Lynx prevailed.
Settles finished 20-for-39 in what is believed to be a new school, and possibly conference, record for total yards in a game with 492. Sherrell was outstanding in the back field, averaging 11.6 yards per carry.
Box was huge on Saturday, but senior
Austin Henyon added two catches for 62 yards while sophomore Loud had three receptions for 18 yards and Lucas had two catches for 36 yards.
The defense surprisingly had no turnovers or sacks, but was still dominant in the game. Sophomore
Charlie Hughes led the team in tackles with six while sophomores
Duke Sherrell and
Luis Vela each had five. Junior
Bron McPherson and senior
Matt Nungesser each had a tackle for loss.
Rhodes is now 3-1 on the year and 1-1 in SAA play while Sewanee drops to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in SAA play. The Lynx will return home to Crain Field next Saturday as they prepare for 1 PM matchup with Washington University in St. Louis.
The Bears is where Head Coach
Jim Ryan served as Defensive Coordinator before coming to Rhodes. WashU defeated previously unbeaten Berry, 34-10, at home tonight.
