BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham-Southern football team earned back-to-back SAA wins after defeating Hendrix 16-15 on Saturday during Homecoming. The Panthers recorded a school record seven total sacks in the win with Jaden Hood setting the individual record of four.

On the opening drive for the Warriors, quarterback Jacob Buniff led his team right down the field and into the end zone on a 27-yard TD pass to take an early lead. Hendrix elected to go for two and was successful to give themselves an 8-0 lead early. The Panthers went three-and-out on their opening drive, but the BSC defense came up with a stop to give the ball right back to the offense. With 5:07 left in the first quarter, quarterback Matt McClary went untouched and took a 31-yard carry to the house. Kobe Hughes then cashed in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 8. Hendrix pushed the ball down the field on their next possession, and the opening quarter ended with the Warriors having 3rd and 7 on the BSC 20. 

To begin the second quarter, the Panthers defense came up with a huge stop on 4th and 2 after Jett Wilson got into the backfield to stop Turley a yard short of the line to gain. The Panthers couldn't get anything going on offense, and the Warriors drove the ball down inside the BSC red zone once again on the next possession. On 2nd and 7 from the BSC 18, freshman Jaden Hood sacked Buniff to force the Warriors offense back. Hood went on to have four sacks on the day to set a new school record for a single game. On 4th and 8 from the BSC 19, the Panthers defense came up with another big stop to give the ball back to the offense and preserve the tie. 

In the third quarter, the BSC offense started with three scoreless drives while the Hendrix offense had two of their own. On their third possession of the second half, the Warriors had a drive of almost seven minutes capped off by a Jacob Buniff TD pass to Tanner Grimes to take a 15-7 lead heading into the final quarter. Hendrix elected to kick the extra point leaving an opportunity for 'Southern to take the lead on their next touchdown. 

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Panthers were backed up at 3rd and 16 from their own 37 yard line. Mitch Thompson took the pass from McClary 18 yards to pick up a crucial first down. Later in the drive, McClary found Thompson again on a screen that was taken all the way through the Warriors defense and into the end zone to cut the deficit to one. Coach Anthony Colucci elected to go for two, and the gamble would pay off as McClary found tight end Hayden Morton to take a 16-15 lead with 12:47 to go. The BSC defense held off the Warriors and on the final drive sacks by Jaden Hood, Ben Bambrey, Sam Taylor, and Ricky Spence Jr. clinched the win for BSC. McClary then took two knees as time expired to give the Panthers their second consecutive win.

Records
Birmingham-Southern 3-4 (2-3 SAA), Hendrix 2-4 (2-2 SAA).
 
Up Next
The Panthers have a bye week but will be on the road at Rhodes in Memphis, Tenn on Oct. 28 at 1:00 p.m.