TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rhodes College scored three touchdowns in a five-minute span to break open a close contest and earn a 43-19 victory over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the Fightin' Engineer football home opener on Saturday.
Both teams were locked in a first-half defensive battle, with Rose-Hulman holding a 7-2 lead after a 30-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Dion to Jake Zimmerman with 12:48 left in the second quarter. Rhodes answered with a pair of PJ Settles to Josh Lucas touchdown passes, including a 25-yard strike on the last play of the first half to take a 15-7 lead at the break.
In the second half, Rhodes relied in part on its special teams to score twice in the first five minutes and gain a lead. Sawyer Young scored a pair of receiving touchdowns as Rose-Hulman put up a third and fourth quarter, but the visiting Lynx came out with the victory.
Settles finished 11-23 through the air for 157 yards and three touchdowns, and also rushed for 135 yards and one score. Josh Lucas had all three touchdown receptions from Settles.
Andrew Dion led the Rose-Hulman offense by passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Eric Morris added his first touchdown pass of the season on a 15-yard strike to Young early in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Mike Riley paced the Fightin' Engineers with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack among his 11 total tackles. Riley added two quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and one blocked extra point.
Carter Hounshell had a team-high 13 total tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Jack Heyl added seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. Matt Michalak pitched in with seven tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Rose-Hulman dropped to 0-2 on the campaign, while Rhodes improved to 2-0. The Fightin' Engineers return to action in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener at Mount St. Joseph next weekend.
