HANOVER, Ind. – The Hanover Panthers (0-1 overall) opened the 2024 campaign by welcoming Centre to Alumni Stadium and C. Wayne Perry Field, falling to the Colonels 27-12.
 
Senior Jalen Peck (Bloomington, Ind.) and senior Austin Oppel (Brandenburg, Ky.) led the Panthers with 70 plus yards receiving. Peck recorded a team-high 78 yards while Oppel collected 72 yards.
 
Under center, sophomore quarterback Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) tallied 270 passing yards and one passing touchdown.
 
Defensively, senior Ben Massey (Indianapolis, Ind.) paced the way with a team-high eight tackles, 1.5 stops for a loss. Junior Garron Jenkins (Greenville, Ind.) penetrated the background recording a team-best three tackles for loss.
 
The Panthers struck first in the contest, as a four-play 75-yard drive in the first period saw Roudebush find Oppel in the endzone, 6-0. However, Centre answered with time winding down in the first quarter to capture the 7-6 difference.
 
Hanover was able to reclaim the 9-7 lead late into the second frame as sophomore Clint Hearne (Madison, Ind.) showed his range connecting for a 36-yard field goal.
 
But the Colonels deemed too much in the second half using a 10 point fourth quarter to claim a 27-12 victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 14 when they travel to NCAA Division I foe Butler. Kick-off is slated for 6:00 PM.