CHICAGO, Ill. - In what will more than likely be the final Blues Bowl, at least on an annual basis, the Rhodes College football team had two redzone turnovers including a late turnover in Chicago territory as they fell to the University of Chicago, 33-26, on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field.

In a game featuring high powered offenses, the Lynx picked up 451 total yards including 334 through the air. However, two interceptions and five fumbles, including two lost, broke the Lynx backs on numerous possessions.

Chicago finished with 485 yards of total offense including 332 through the air and only had one turnover on the day as they were able to prevail with a late touchdown to take the lead.

For Rhodes, it is their second straight loss as it drops them to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the SAA. Chicago goes to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the SAA.

The Lynx got the ball first and could not muster up any points after eight plays and punted it to the Maroons. Chicago drove 55 yards in 14 plays as a Mike Kurzydlowski field goal put the Maroons up 3-0.

Rhodes would turn the ball over on an interception on the next possession which led to a 28 yard rushing touchdown from Chandler Carroll to put Chicago ahead 10-0 in the first quarter.

Both teams would exchange possessions as Rhodes took over with 12:12 to go in the second quarter. The Lynx would put together a 57 yard drive in nine plays as the Lynx would go for it on fourth down twice resulting in a 41 yard touchdown pass from sophomore P.J. Settles to senior Xavier May on 4th-and-9 to make it a 10-7 game.

After a Chicago three and out, Rhodes took advantage of good field position and got into field goal range where junior Kyle Edmiston shattered his previous career high of 43 yards with a 49 yard field goal to tie things at 10.

Chicago responded with a monster 16 play, 84 yard drive resulting in a short field goal for a 13-10 lead. Rhodes looked as though they would answer before the half, driving to the Maroons' 11 yard line. However, an interception in the redzone resulted in no points and sent the game to halftime at 13-10.

The Maroons took their first drive and marched 75 yards down the field in 11 plays as Andrew Falk scored on a pass from Burke Moser from two yards out to extend the lead to 19-10. However, the extra point would be blocks and senior John Dodd would return it 99 yards to make it a 19-12 game.

After each team traded possessions, it was the Lynx turn to put together a long drive, going 65 yards in 13 plays as Settles got it done both through the air and on the ground. Settles would run it in from one yard out to tie the game again at 19 going into the final quarter.

Another brilliant drive from Chicago would be the result to start the fourth, capping a 17 play, 75 yard drive with a Syd Reynolds touchdown catch from 13 yards out from Moser to go back ahead 26-19.

The Lynx immediately struck as Settles connected while senior Austin Henyon to get down into Chicago territory. Behind great runs from Settles, Rhodes got to the one yard line and fumbled on first down, but was able to recover. The very next play, the Lynx fumbled again and were not so lucky this time as Chicago recovered for the goal line stand.

However, the Rhodes defense stood tall and got the offense the ball back. Rhodes went 80 yards in 11 plays as Settles had completed passes to seniors Brandon Box, Alex Richards, and a 35-yard play to Mason Windatt resulting in an 11 yard touchdown run from Settles to even the game again at 26.

Chicago moved down the field again and on 3rd-and-9, Burke found Trevor Anderson for an 18 yard score and a 33-26 lead with a little over four minutes to play.

Rhodes marched down again, using small to intermediate passes and three third down conversions to get down to the Chicago 33 with around a minute to play. On their fourth third down try of the drive, Settles would be sacked, forcing a fumble that Chicago would recover to seal the win and give the Lynx a heartbreaking defeat.

Settles was terrific, going 23-for-47 for 337 yards and a touchdown while also adding 76 yards on the ground and a pair of scores. Box finished with eight catches for 128 yards while May added two catches for 65 yards and Windatt had four catches for 62 yards.

Defensively, Rhodes finished with five sacks as sophomore Jack Skipper and senior Pete Showalter each had 1.5 on the day with Skipper finished with three tackles for loss. Sophomore Landon Graves had one while sophomore Duke Sherrell and senior Pat West each had 0.5. 

Senior Jack Ingalls finished with 10 tackles to lead the way while junior Bron McPherson, senior Matt Nungesser, and Skipper all had seven tackles on the day. Freshman Jacob Andersen finished with a fumble recovery.

Rhodes will look to bounce back next Saturday as they head to Birmingham, Ala. for a matchup against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers at 2 PM.