From a defensive standpoint, Colorado College did it all in Saturday's season finale at Washburn Field.

And, while the winless Tigers fell short in a 20-7 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference defeat to Centre College, they were reminded again that they have what it takes to compete with the SCAC's top teams.

They gave Centre, 7-3 overall and 5-2 in league play, all it could handle, forcing three turnovers and holding the visitors to 85 net yards rushing. Thanks to a spectacular goal-line stand late in the second quarter, CC came within 37 seconds of holding the Colonels scoreless in the opening half.

For the day, junior defensive end Ian Rivero and freshman tackle J.P. Davis combined for four sacks. Freshman safety Mike Box was in on 12 tackles, blocked a field-goal attempt and recovered a fumble. Senior linebacker Josh Underwood and junior safety Brendan Ross each matched Box's six solo stops. Sophomore Alpha Anders, who also pounced on a Centre fumble, recorded two of CC's eight tackles for losses. Sophomore cornerback Mike McDermott made an interception.

A one-yard touchdown plunge by senior running back Justin Alexander midway through the third quarter, set up by an 18-yard scramble by senior quarterback Jon McDonald, wiped out a 7-0 halftime deficit and pulled the Tigers even in a game that could have gone either way.

It was 7-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the end, however, it was the Colonels who were able to make the plays – a 15-yard TD pass from Tyler Osterman to Rob Pope with 9:38 remaining and another scoring drive that ate up all but 36.6 seconds of the final 7:38 – that made the difference.

CC, 0-9 overall and 0-7 in SCAC play, fumbled the ball away on four occasions, including three times in the second half.