MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After back-to-back conference wins and a bye week, the Birmingham-Southern football team was defeated on the road at Rhodes on Saturday afternoon. 

Rhodes received the opening kickoff of the game and put together an impressive touchdown drive lasting more than five minutes. Robert Daniel punched it in from a yard out to give the Lynx an early 7-0 lead after 21 yard and six yard rushes on the previous two plays. Starting at their own 25, BSC then pieced together an excellent drive of almost seven minutes. On third and goal from the Rhodes 1, QB Matt McClary was stopped short on the sneak to set up 4th and goal from the 1. McClary handed it off to RB Kobe Hughes this time, but he was stopped short to give the Lynx the ball back. 

Rhodes then went 99 yards at the beginning of the second quarter to extend their lead to 14 after a 5-yard TD pass by Evan Reeder. Both teams would punt on their next possessions after short drives. BSC took over from their own 26 with less than five minutes left in the opening half. After a couple of nice runs, McClary threw a deep shot to Dayton Green to put the offense down at the Rhodes 21. Kobe Hughes and the offensive line did the work the rest of the way and put the ball in the end zone from four yards out. Hughes then ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 14-8.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, freshman returner Cree Ross bursted forward for a huge 59-yard return all the way down to the Rhodes 30 yard line. The Panthers had a great opportunity for an opening drive score after having 1st and goal from the Rhodes 6, but penalties pushed them back to the 19. The Lynx special teams then made a play of their own blocking Ian Vachon's 36-yard field goal attempt to keep the score at 14-8. On the next Rhodes possession of almost eight minutes, they went all the way down the field and scored despite a couple of holding penalties. Elijah Bane scored on a one yard rush this time to extend the Lynx lead to 20-8 after the failed two-point try.

After a couple of punts, the Panthers got the ball at their own 30 yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter. On a 3rd and 17 from the BSC 48, the Lynx came up with their first interception of the afternoon to set up their offense around midfield. Rhodes then capitalized and took a 27-8 lead leaving a tough deficit for the Panthers. On the next 'Southern possession, the Lynx would get their second interception of the game. This time, Nick Floyd took it all the way to the house to all but clinch the win for Rhodes. The game remained scoreless the rest of the way, and Rhodes got the win at home 34-8.

Records
Birmingham-Southern 3-5 (2-4 SAA), Rhodes 6-3 (4-3 SAA).
 
Up Next
The Panthers will return to General Krulak Stadium for the final home game of the season against #23 Berry on Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m.