Salem, Ore. - Rhodes College football came from behind to earn a 45-42 win over host Willamette University Saturday night. The Lynx start the 2017 season 1-0 after a 75-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback PJ Settles to fellow junior Josh Lucas on Rhodes' first offensive possession.

Willamette took a 21-7 lead after the Lynx offense struggled in the passing game. Rhodes' junior duo connected again in the second quarter, this time an 11-yard pass to cut Willamette's lead to seven.

During the second half, the Lynx exploded with two touchdowns to take the lead. Senior Alex Richards caught a 35-yard pass in the third quarter to tie the game 21-21 before Settles rushed for a four-yard touchdown. Willamette scored a touchdown to pull within one of the Lynx after missing the extra point attempt, but a Kyle Edmiston field goal ended the third quarter and gave the Lynx a marginal 31-27 cushion.

Willamette took a 35-31 lead, opening the fourth quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass on an eight-play drive. Settles took matters into his own hands and gave the Lynx the lead for good on a 50-yard run for his second rushing touchdown of the game. The 38-35 advantage took just two plays and 35 seconds to cover 52 yards. Junior Josh Loud caught a 27-yard pass to give Rhodes their largest lead of the game (45-35) with 6:52 left in the game. A touchdown by Willamette cut that lead to three. Rhodes took up two minutes and 30 seconds on a 16-play drive which resulted in the visitor's fourth punt of the game. Willamette began their final drive with 54 seconds remaining as they made their way into Lynx territory. Sophomores Trent Holt and Parker Rye teamed up to negate any Willamette threats when Holt stripped the ball with 29 seconds left as Rye came up with the recovery to ensure the season-opening win for Rhodes.

"I'm proud of our football team and how we played hard all four quarters," commented second-year head coach Jim Ryan. "Our guys stayed positive throughout the game."

Settles passed for 356 yards, two interceptions, four touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns while Willamette quarterback Mathew Castaneda threw for 281 yards, one interception and two touchdowns.

The Lynx defense sacked Castaneda twice, once by Holt and once by a Rye/Duke Sherrell combination.

The Lynx made six of 13 third-down conversions and edged Willamette 497 yards-486 yards. 

Rhodes will host Pomona-Pitzer in their home-opener on Saturday, Sep. 9 at 7 p.m. on Crain Field.