SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Dawson White rushed for 138 yards and posted two touchdowns,
Jacorin Thomas added three total TDs, two on the ground, and Sewanee's defense forced a pair of turnovers in a 31-7 victory over Rhodes College, reclaiming the Orgill Cup for the first time since 2018 in football action here Saturday at McGee Field-Harris Stadium.
The Tigers (2-5, 1-3 SAA) held the Lynx to just 190 yards of offense and did not allow a point over the final 55 minutes of action after Rhodes scored on the opening drive of the game. Sewanee defeated the Lynx for just the third time since 2005.
Rhodes scored on the first series of the game on a nine-yard run by Robert Daniel, but the Tigers answered with a 13-yard scoring run by Thomas four minutes later. White's 18-yard catch-and-run early in the second quarter put the Tigers in front for good.
Will Simpson booted an 18-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and Thomas' quarterback sneak later in the period pushed the lead to 24-7. White put the icing on the cake with a 32-yard burst up the middle early in the final quarter for the last touchdown.
White finished with 27 rushes for 138 yards along with one catch, with 17 attempts and 97 yards in the second half. Thomas completed 10-of-16 passes for 131 yards and one TD while carrying 19 times for 72 yards and two scores.
Dyer Barnes caught five balls for 74 yards to lead the receivers. Sewanee did not turn the ball over in the game, a huge statistic compared to other games this season.
The Tigers limited Rhodes to just 64 yards of offense in the second half, posting one fumble and one interception with four sacks and seven tackles for loss. The Lynx converted only 3-of-11 on third down as well, including 1-of-9 after the opening drive of the game.
Evan Reeder and Taylor Haas combined to complete 11-of-23 passes for 148 yards with one INT for the Lynx. Daniel rushed nine times for 29 yards.
Elijah Bane returned the opening kickoff 40 yards for the Lynx and the visitors used eight plays to score. Reeder completed a four-yard pass for a first down and found Alex LeBlanc across the middle on fourth down. Daniel carried nine yards for the touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead for Rhodes.
Jaylen Mack's interception set-up the Tigers near midfield midway through the first period. Thomas gained 22 yards on a rush up the middle and another 10 yards was added on for holding by the Lynx. Two plays later Thomas scrambled to the left, beating defenders to the corner of the end zone, knotting the game at seven.
Sewanee put together a 12-play, 54-yard drive that covered both quarters to take the lead. Thomas rushed for three yards for the initial first down of the possession and hit Barnes across the middle for another. White gained 10 yards on three carries to set-up 1
st-and-10 at the Rhodes 22 and on third down, White caught a swing pass to the left, broke a tackle and raced to the end zone, giving the Tigers a 14-7 advantage.
After a short punt, Sewanee started near midfield and again used 12 plays on a drive just before the half, with
Tailan Hall catching an eight-yard pass for a first down. Thomas gained a first down with a QB sneak to the Rhodes 20, but the drive stalled and
Will Simpson's 36-yard attempt hit the crossbar, sending the teams to the locker room with the Tigers in the lead, 14-7.
Barnes caught an 11-yard pass for a first down early in the third quarter and a roughing the passer penalty pushed the ball to the Rhodes 19.
Sean Johnson's 13-yard grab made it 1
st-and-goal at the four, but two attempts from the one were unsuccessful and Simpson's field goal pushed the lead to 17-7.
The next Sewanee possession included a nine-yard reception by Johnson and a 47-yard completion down the right sideline to Barnes, all the way to the Rhodes 11. White gained eight yards and three plays later Thomas scored from the one, extending the advantage to 24-7.
John Hampton's 28-yard catch put the Lynx in Sewanee territory at the end of the third quarter, but
Kason Holder's blew up a fourth down play with a big hit on the quarterback to end the period.
Isaiah Copeland's sack in the fourth quarter ended another Rhodes drive and the Tigers took over at the Lynx 41. Three plays later White burst through the line and broke three ankle tackles on his way to the end zone for the final points.
Sewanee hosts Southwestern University next Saturday at Noon in the second of three consecutive home games.
