Berry Football Tops Rhodes 42-35 in SAA Slugfest

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The No. 18 Berry College football team survived a back-and-forth battle at Rhodes College this afternoon, winning their first Southern Athletic Association (SAA) contest of the year 42-35.

With the victory, Berry improves to 3-0 on the year and 1-0 in conference play. The Vikings have also extended their winning streak to 18 regular-season games.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Berry jumped out to a 28-0 lead in a blink off scored from CJ Stone, TJ Watkins, Mason Kinsey and Joey Connors in the first quarter. That marked the most point Berry had scored in a single quarter since Nov. 5, 2016 when the Vikings put up 31 points in the second quarter against Birmingham-Southern.
  • Rhodes got one back early in the second period off a 21-yard pass from PJ Settles.
  • The Vikings then rolled to a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive that was capped by Mason Kinsey's second score of the game. Berry led 35-7.
  • The Lynx then rolled to three straight scores, cutting Berry's lead to 35-28.
  • After a blocked punt, Berry's CJ Stone punched in his second score from 9-yards out to extend the Vikings' lead to 42-28.
  • Berry's defense was unable to get off the field on the next drive, surrendering a 15-play, 81-yard scoring drive to give Rhodes life. The Vikings led 42-35.
  • With a chance to go up by two scores with 2:35 remaining, Trey Gregory's field goal attempt was blocked, giving Rhodes a chance to tie it.
  • On 4th and 10 from the Rhodes 43-yard line, PJ Settles was intercepted by Kevin Grier to give Berry back the ball with just over a minute remaining.
  • Berry was forced to punt, but Settles was once again intercepted by Mark Sommerville to seal the Vikings' win.

BERRY STANDOUTS:

  • Tate Adcock: 7-15, 119 yds, 3 TDs
  • Joey Connors: 11 att, 127 yds, TD
  • CJ Stone: 11 att, 89 yds, 2 TDs
  • Mason Kinsey: 4 rec, 35 yds, 2 TDs
  • A.M. Harris: 7 tkl, 0.5 TFL
  • Bryson Lamboy: 7 tkl, 1 SACK, 2.5 tfl

NOTABLES:

  • TJ Watkins caught his first career touchdown pass
  • Berry is now 3-0 for the third straight season
  • The Vikings' 300 yards rushing is just four yards short of the program record

UP NEXT:

  • The schedule gets no easier for Berry as they will head to Centre next Saturday for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. Centre is also 3-0 and beat Hendrix today 45-6.

AROUND THE SAA:

  • Centre defeated Hendrix today 45-6.
  • Millsaps was victorious over Trinity 10-7.
  • Sewanee beat Austin 28-20.