In Memphis, Tenn., Berry College took a lead into halftime against Rhodes College thanks to a 47-yard touchdown run on a fake punt and a 100-yard fumble return for a touchdown. However, the visiting Vikings faltered in the second half, falling to the Lynx, 36-24, before a crowd of 2,198 at Crain Field.
Berry linebacker Anthony Batey recovered a Lynx fumble at the goal line, then took it to the house, and punter Mitchell Blanchard took a high snap on a fake punt and ran for a 47-yard touchdown to put the Vikings up early. For his efforts, Blanchard was named the Southern Athletic Association Football Special Teams Player of the Week.
Rhodes (3-1) rushed for 337 yards, led by Dane Wilson who ran for 124 yards and three of Rhodes’ four rushing touchdowns, but coughed up the ball twice in the first half. The Lynx and picked up 23 unanswered points in the second half before Berry (1-3) scored on a seven-yard pass from Adam Sandin to Sean Stassie with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter.
Saturday’s game marked Berry’s first lead in an NCAA recognized contest. Berry’s win came against a junior varsity squad, and while the school counts that contest as part of its record, the NCAA does not.