Box Score
Final Statistics: Sewanee at Rhodes
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 29, 2011) – After residing at Rhodes for the past five seasons, the Edmund Orgill Trophy is headed back to Sewanee after the Tigers defeated their longtime-rival 34-7 Saturday afternoon in Memphis.
With the win, Sewanee now sits at 4-5 on the season. Also with the victory the Tigers picked up their first SCAC win of the fall.
After taking the opening kickoff to the Sewanee 42 yard line, the Tigers went to work on its opening possession, after sophomore quarterback
Lee Schurlknight picked up a 34-yard gain on Sewanee's first play from scrimmage. After Schurlknight gained four yards on the Tigers' next play, the second-year signal caller put Sewanee on the board after he found the endzone from 20 yards out.
With the 7-0 score in favorite of Sewanee, Rhodes finally got on the board for the first time on its opening drive of the second quarter. On the possession the Lynx had only two plays that netted positive yards, however the unfortunate thing for Sewanee was that each key play kept the drive alive for points. After picking up 39 yards on a crucial 3-and-10 play from its own 37 yard line, Rhodes found the endzone three plays later when quarterback Brett Stoots found Jack Lartigue for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
After Sewanee failed to respond on its next drive, Rhodes looked to continue its momentum with a big play through the air. However, after failing to stop the Lynx just minutes before the Sewanee defense stepped up. On the first play of the drive, Stoots attempted a long pass down the field, however junior safety
J.D. Crabtree picked off the Rhodes quarterback giving the Tigers the ball back.
Immediately, Schurlknight then connected on a 32-yard pass to running back Chuck Winfield, which put Sewanee back in business at the Rhodes 29. Six plays later the Tigers regained the lead for good on senior fullback
Zeke Wilson's one-yard plunge with 4:45 to play in the half.
Rhodes then tried to answer after driving deep into Sewanee territory. However, the Lynx were again stopped after Stoots' pass was intercepted by cornerback
Murphy Walters at the one yard line.
Continuing its defense power on Rhodes first two possessions of the second half the Tigers then added their third score of the day. Again doing his work through the air Schurlknight stayed hot with a 32-yard touchdown pass to junior slotback
Jase Brooks, giving the Tigers a 21-7 advantage midway through the third quarter.
Sewanee then added another score, this time courtesy of the defense on Rhodes next offensive set. After the Lynx marched to the Tigers 30 yard line, linebacker J.P. Boudreaux, hit Stoots hard enough to cause a fumble that was picked up by fellow linebacker
John Davenport. Davenport then raced 52 yards for the touchdown.
With its 27-7 lead in hand, Sewanee did not let up as Rhodes got the ball back. After holding Stoots and the Lynx offense to three straight incomplete passes, the Tigers added another score from Wilson from six yards out. In addition to making the score 34-7, the biggest factor on the drive was Sewanee's ability to pick up first downs after the Tigers marched 97 yards on 14 plays, eating up over seven minutes of the clock to ice the game away.
Overall, Sewanee dominated Rhodes on the ground, after the Tigers outrushed the Lynx by 214 yards. Despite Rhodes' 273 yards passing on the day, defensive coordinator Brian Newberry and the Tigers defense was dialed in. On the afternoon, Sewanee forced three interceptions, one fumble, 11 pass breakups and eight tackles for loss.
With the win, Sewanee is now 42-35-3 all-time against Rhodes. Also Saturday's 27 point margin of victory was the largest the Tigers have had against their rival since Sewanee defeated then Southwestern (Rhodes) by a 41-6 mark on October 30, 1965.
Sewanee returns to action in its final game of the 2011 season as the Tigers welcome Austin College next Saturday for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at McGee Field at Harris Stadium.
For more information on Sewanee athletics please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com.
