Rhodes Jumps Out To Early Lead, Tops CMS In Its Home-Opener

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Last season when Rhodes College and the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team squared off in Memphis, the game came down to the final possession. On Saturday at Zinda Field in the Stags' home-opener, instead Rhodes took command of the game early and went on to a 36-9 win. CMS is now 1-1 while Rhodes is 2-1.

Rhodes scored on its first four possessions of the game to jump out to a 23-0 lead by the 10:50 mark of the second quarter. A 32-yard pass from sophomore QB Blake Box to freshman TE Charles Schneider got Rhodes on the board at the 9:28 mark of the first quarter. After a field goal to go ahead 10-0, Rhodes added a rushing touchdown by senior RB Dane Wilson to close out the first quarter with a 17-0 lead.

Wilson rushed for 98 yards on 20 attempts and two touchdowns for Rhodes on the night while Box completed 14-of-17 passing attempts for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

In the second quarter, Box threw for his second touchdown of the half, a 1-yard pass to sophomore TE Mason Childers.

After the Rhodes touchdown, CMS marched 55 yards in nine plays to set up a field goal attempt by freshman K Matthew Aven who missed the 29-yard attempt to the left. Aven came back on the next CMS possession and kicked a 53-yard field goal to close out the half and narrow the Rhodes' lead to 23-3 at halftime. The field goal was set up by junior QB Sean McKaveney who completed four passes on the drive for 38 yards. In the game, McKaveney completed 23-of-38 attempts for 210 yards.

The second half saw CMS gets its lone touchdown. Down 36-3 in the fourth quarter and with Rhodes' offense driving, freshman DB Griffin Lazarus intercepted a Rhodes' pass in the end zone and returned it 67 yards to the Rhodes 33-yard line. Nine plays later, freshman QB Trey Reynolds connected with sophomore WR Tyler Stanek for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter.

Senior WR Kris Otterholt led CMS with seven receptions for 69 yards and sophomore WR Ryan Farney and Stanek each added six catches. CMS had 313 yards of total offense while Rhodes piled up 446 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore DB James Ingram tied for a game-high with 11 tackles while senior DB Joey Liekweg and sophomore LB A.J. Herrera each added nine. Freshman DL Wyatt Rouser and junior DL Alex Chang each had a sack for CMS. Michael Shield and Joseph Raby led Rhodes with 11 tackles each.

CMS has a bye week and next plays on Oct. 5 at La Verne at 1 p.m.

Box score: http://cmsathletics.org/sports/fball/2013-14/boxscores/20130921_qgmf.xml

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