Hendrix College Warriors Pick Off First Conference Win

CONWAY, Ark. – The Hendrix College Warriors defense was responsible for four interceptions, nine tackles for loss and a safety to lead the Warriors to a 30-17 victory over Southern Athletic Association rival Berry College at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors (3-3, 1-2) limited the Vikings (0-6, 0-3) to 362 yards, a season-best for the Hendrix defense.

After exchanging a pair of three-and-outs to start the game, Berry scored on a Trevor Price one-yard run with 7:30 left in the first quarter. On the Vikings’ next possession, quarterback Adam Sandin was sacked in the endzone by freshman defensive tackle Stephen Stearman for a safety.

Early in the second quarter, a pick by redshirt freshman safety Caleb Shannon back to the Berry nine led to a four-yard pass from freshman Tanner Frye to freshman Taylor Tibbits to put Hendrix up 9-7.

The Vikings responded with a 12-play, 78-yard drive – capped by a Sandin two-yard trot over the goal line, going up 14-9. The Warriors took the lead for good with 38 seconds left in the opening half when Frye completed a five-yard pass to junior receiver Casey Caton for a 16-14 advantage.

Shannon caught another interception in the endzone in the third quarter, setting up a nine-play, 80-yard drive for Hendrix with freshman tailback Dayton Winn scoring on a two-yard rush with 1:35 left in the frame.

Campbell Harrison booted a 25-yard field goal for Berry with 12:27 remaining for their final score. Frye completed a nine-yard pass to Winn for a score with 9:34 left to go up 30-17.

The Warriors’ defense held off the Vikings the rest of the way. Freshman safety Jake Steward picked off reserve quarterback Dale Jackson and returned it 41 yards and freshman linebacker Ben Cunningham had a 35-yard interception return on Berry’s next two possessions.

For the game, the Hendrix College Warriors had 389 yards of offense on 77 plays, while Berry had 362 on 78 plays.

Winn rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries and seven catches for 38 yards and another score. Frye, making his first start, went 28-of-39 for 229 yards, three TDs and an interception. Caton caught six balls for 41 yards.

Freshman punter Smith averaged 41.3 yards per punt and had five inside the 20-yard line.

Sandin and Jackson combined to go 9-of-31 for 184 yards and four interceptions for the Vikings. Chris Lilly caught three pass for 122 yards.

On defense, Cunningham recorded 12 tackles, including half a sack, plus the interception. Shannon had eight tackles, two picks and two pass break-ups. Broc Smith had eight tackles and Jake Falleur recorded six solo tackles, with three for a loss and a sack.

Matt Farinella led the Vikings on defense with 13 tackles.

Hendrix will step out of conference play for a trip to Austin College in Sherman, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 26.