The Rhodes College football team, coming off a bye week, traveled down to Conway, Arkansas this weekend to take on former conference rival Hendrix. The Lynx showed flashes on offense, but the defense struggled to contain the high-powered Hendrix offense.
Quarterback Taylor Haas led the Lynx offense with 214 passing yards and a touchdown through the air, while also punching in a rushing score late in the fourth quarter. Haas spread the ball effectively, connecting with Austin Smith six times for 75 yards and finding John Hampton III for a five-yard touchdown strike in the opening quarter. Hampton finished with three catches for 28 yards and a score.
The running game provided big sparks for Rhodes as well. Robert Daniel had a breakout performance, rushing for 99 yards on 11 carries, highlighted by a 49-yard touchdown sprint midway through the third quarter. Jelani Lovett added another touchdown on the ground, breaking free from 20 yards out in the second quarter.
The Lynx kept fighting late, capping a 14-play, 62-yard drive with Haas's two-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull the game back within striking distance.
On special teams, Dero Walker gave Rhodes strong field position with 122 return yards, including a 46-yard kickoff return that set up a scoring opportunity. Defensively, Lawrence Watts led the way with eight total tackles, while Nick Persiano and John Michael Treadway each recorded sacks to slow the Hendrix offense. Hollis Strawbridge added an interception to halt a drive before halftime.
Despite many solid individual efforts, the Lynx would come up short by a final score of 47-28. Their record falls to 1-2 on the season as they hit the road once again next Saturday to face the Berry College Vikings in Rome, Georgia. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm.
