The Rhodes College football team showed flashes of promise on both sides of the ball but fell short against Sewanee, 28–6, in Saturday's Southern Athletic Association matchup at Crain Field. Despite the loss, the Lynx posted solid offensive numbers, finishing with 339 total yards, their second-highest mark of the season, and demonstrated grit in extended drives throughout the afternoon.
After trailing 14–0 at halftime, the Lynx offense broke through in the third quarter with one of the game's biggest highlights. Quarterback Taylor Haas connected with senior tight end Liam Sitz on a spectacular 65-yard touchdown strike, marking the longest passing play of the season for Rhodes. Sitz led all receivers with three catches for 89 yards, while Senior Trey Hampton added five receptions for 67 yards, continuing to be a reliable target in the passing game.
Haas and fellow quarterback Brennan Keim combined for 268 passing yards, spreading the ball around to eight different receivers. The offensive line showed resilience against a tough Sewanee front, helping Rhodes record 20 first downs and maintain possession for nearly 35 minutes of game time.
On defense, Lawrence Watts anchored the Lynx with nine total tackles, while Henry Walter added five stops, including one tackle for loss. Jonathan Torres made his presence felt in pass coverage, recording two pass breakups, and Nick Persiano contributed a quarterback hurry. The Lynx defense limited Sewanee's air attack to under 100 passing yards and forced several long-yardage situations throughout the game.
While penalties and turnovers slowed the Lynx's momentum in key spots, the team continued to fight through all four quarters. Rhodes' special teams also delivered a boost with Grady Jones averaging over 48 yards per punt, including two kicks of 50-plus yards that flipped field position.
The Lynx drop to 1-7 (0-5) and will look to bounce back next weekend when they travel to take on Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. CST, as Rhodes aims to build on its offensive progress and finish the season strong.
