Hendrix College Football Reboot: Warriors Win! Can You Believe It!

CONWAY – For Hendrix College football fans, 53 years just may have been worth the wait.

Steven Crenshaw’s 25-yard field goal with one second left lifted the Warriors to a thrilling 46-44 victory over Westminster on Saturday at Young-Wise Memorial Stadium in Hendrix’s first varsity football game since 1960.

The Warriors trailed by 11 points early in the third quarter, and looked to be on the ropes. But Hendrix rattled off 22 straight points to take the lead. The Bluejays made a comeback of their own, reclaiming the lead on a field goal with 3:52 left. But the Warriors converted a pair of fourth downs to make it into field goal range, and Crenshaw’s boot sent home most of the 2,942 in attendance happy.

“We wanted to make sure they come back,” said Hendrix coach Buck Buchanan. “The one thing you can’t simulate in practice is how are we going to react in the fourth quarter. Now that we have all the firsts out of the way, we have to go forward and build the program.”

Dayton Winn’s 25-yard touchdown run gave Hendrix a 43-35 lead with 12:38 to play. The Warriors looked to be in control, but Josh Blomberg intercepted Seth Peters and returned it 39 yards for a Westminster touchdown. The two-point try failed and Hendrix retained the lead.

Westminster forced a Hendrix punt and quickly moved into Hendrix territory.  Joe Plassmeyer connected with Christian Moulton for 25 yards to the Hendrix 7. The Warriors’ defense stiffened, and held the Bluejays to a field goal for a 44-43 lead with 3:12 to play.

On the ensuing Hendrix possession, Peters hit Winn for 22 yards on a screen to the Westminster 42. Hendrix converted a fourth-and-5 when Peters passed to Spencer Smith. Winn got loose for 20 yards down to the 2, and Hendrix moved the ball to the middle of the field, setting up Crenshaw’s kick. That set off a jubilant celebration, as the Hendrix players headed straight for the makeshift student section set up off the north end zone, capping an historic day on the Conway campus.

“We put it together,” Peters said. “Our defense really turned it up and got some turnovers for us.  We put together a drive, and we were confident from the very start.”

The Warriors could not have had a more inauspicious start to the game. Peters was sacked on the game’s first play, and then threw an interception on the second. Westminster’s Ronnie Seals Jr. ran for 26 yards on the next play, and followed it up with a touchdown run from two yards out. Four plays into the new incarnation, Hendrix trailed 7-0.

“Definitely a bad start,” Peters said. “Our nerves got to us. We’re all really young, first college game. I think we all had the jitters; I know I did.”

The two teams traded blows for much of the first half. Hendrix has a chance to tie the score just before halftime, but Thomas Weissert fumbled going into the end zone. The Bluejays led 28-21 at the half, and opened the second half with a 10-play, 70-yard drive for a touchdown.  Ronnie Seals’ one-yard run made it 35-21, and at that point the Hendrix defense looked winded.

But the Warriors answered the bell responding with 22 straight points. Crenshaw kicked a 26-yard field goal, and after a Westminster fumble, Peters passed to Doug Phillips for a 1-yard score.  The two-point try failed and it was a 35-30 game.

The Warriors then held the Bluejays to a three-and-out, and Hendrix drove 82 yards for the go-ahead score, with Peters connecting to Caleb Brake for a 22-yard touchdown and 36-35 lead. The drive was buoyed by two personal fouls called on Westminster. After forcing another punt, Hendrix scored again on Winn’s run.

It was Westminster, and not the upstart Hendrix, that looked undisciplined. The Bluejays were flagged for numerous personal fouls that extended Hendrix drives.

Hendrix outgained Westminster 538-410 and had a 35:46-24:14 edge in time of possession.  Peters completed 25 of 40 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Caton had eight receptions for 146 yards. Winn ran for 146 yards and a score on 20 rushes.

For Westminster, Plassmeyer was held to 194 yards passing, after averaging more than 300 per game in 2012. Seals ran for 100 yards and two scores before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury.

The Warriors hit the road for their Southern Athletic Association opener with Birmingham Southern next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Photos below courtesy of Angie Rios

Hendrix College football players representing classes from 1928 to 1963 are recognized during halftime.

Former Homecoming Queens and Princesses applaud former Hendrix College Football Players