Football posts 31-14 win over Trinity on Homecoming
Senior running back Monte Scotton (Cleveland, Tenn.) ran for 147 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore quarterback Heath Haden (Kingsport, Tenn.) threw for 204 yards and two more touchdowns to lead Centre to a 31-14 win over Trinity University Saturday, Oct. 20 at Farris Stadium in Danville, Ky.
After its first drive ended when junior linebacker Erich Vogelsang (Northbend, Ohio) intercepted a third-and-six pass attempt, the Tigers broke through on their second drive. Travis Williams capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive with a two-yard run for an early 7-0 lead.
Centre answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive of its own, as Haden found senior receiver Andrew Tuller (Prospect, Ky.) for a 20-yard scoring strike to tie the game at 7-7. Tuller finished the game with four catches for 72 yards.
The Colonels' defense forced a punt on Trinity's next possession, and the offense took over on its own 34-yard line. On the first play of the drive Haden hit junior receiverRob Melillo (Louisville, Ky.) for 41 yards to the Trinity 25-yard line. Three plays later, Haden found Scotton for a 24-yard completion to the one. Scotton then took the hand-off on the next play and crossed the goal line for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season and a 14-7 Centre lead.
The first half ended with that same score, but changed quickly in the second half. The Colonels took the kick-off and drove 58 yards on eight plays with Haden hooking up with senior receiver Jason Osterman (Monroe, Ohio), this time for a four-yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 lead.
Trinity would cut the lead to 21-14 later in the third quarter. A fake punt went for 10 yards and a first down to keep an 11-play, 72-yard drive alive. Quarterback Mason Blaschke capped the drive with a three-yard scoring run and the Tigers were within seven.
The fourth quarter was all Centre as the Colonels had the ball for 11:36 of the 15 minutes, including a 16-play, 72-yard drive that took 9:24 off the clock and ended with senior Jordan Gay's (Danville, Ky.) 24-yard field goal to seal the win.
Prior to Gay's field goal, junior running back Harry Meisner (Wyoming, Ohio) scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season on a seven-yard run to extend the lead to 28-14.
Scotton, who has battled injuries throughout the season, recorded his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season and first since the opening game of the season.
Led by junior defensive back Ben Leahy's (Monroe, Ohio) 11 tackles and interception, the Centre defense recorded five tackles for loss, including four sacks and intercepted four passes in the game.
Centre will return to action Saturday, Oct. 27 with a non-conference road game against Austin College. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. CST in Sherman, Texas.
