HISTORY! Gents Defeat Austin College 36-17 For First Win In Return To The Gridiron

Sherman, Texas – HISTORY! The Centenary football team achieved a milestone moment on Saturday night in its return to the gridiron this Fall as the Gents recorded their first NCAA victory since the 1940's with a 36-17 victory over the Austin College 'Roos in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Jerry E. Apple Stadium.

The Gents (1-2, 1-1 SCAC) were playing their second of three-straight road contests against the 'Roos (0-3, 0-1 SCAC) following a road loss last weekend at Texas Lutheran University and a meeting next Saturday at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.

How it happened:

Each team kicked a field goal in the first quarter and then a scoreless second period followed as the game was tied at 3-3 at halftime. The second half, though, belonged to the Gents as they outscored the 'Roos 33-14 to seal the win.

Senior K Enrique Hernandez (Beaumont, Texas) capped an 11-play, 64-yard drive with a 21-yard FG at the 7:51 mark of the first quarter for a 3-0 Centenary lead. Austin College K Caleb Balderes made one from 33 yards out to tie the score with just 45 seconds remaining in the quarter following a 13-play drive that covered 54 yards.

Freshman Gideon Bowman (Destrehan, La.) came up with a big defensive play early in the third quarter as he scooped up a fumble by AC's Zyan Stewart and took it into the end zone from 20 yards out for the score. Hernandez's PAT was blocked but the Gents lead 9-3 with 13:06 left in the quarter.

On the next Austin College offensive possession, the 'Roos drove to the Centenary 10-yard line after 10 productive plays, poised to tie or take the lead. But again, the Gents' opportunistic defense made an impact. Austin College QB Jaylon Talton completed a pass to Trey Adams, but Centenary freshman DB Jacob Wilson (Shreveport, La.) forced a fumble and freshman DB Jacob Black (New Orleans, La.) picked it up and raced 90 yards down the sideline and into the end zone for another defensive TD and a 15-3 lead. The 'Roos again blocked the PAT but the Gents took a double-digit lead at the 7:48 mark of the period.

Austin College's Barrett Hudson scored from a yard out with 4:52 remaining in the third and Balderes added the PAT to make it a 15-10 game to cap an impressive 75-yard drive that took just seven plays with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Centenary's defense, though, continued to make impressive and game-changing plays as sophomore TE Gavin Jack (Mamou, La.) scooped up a fumble and ran it in for a TD from 60 yards out and junior RB Bobby Shanklin Jr. (Macon, Miss.) ran for the two-point conversion to extend the Gents' lead to 23-10 at the 12:40 mark of the fourth quarter.

Junior QB Zin'Tavious Smith (Coushatta, La.) scored on a 25-yard run with 7:31 on the clock in the fourth quarter and the two-point conversion run by junior RB Josh Ware (Shreveport, La.) failed but Centenary's lead grew to 29-10. The 'Roos scored on a 10-yard TD pass at the 6:14 mark from Talton to DQ Barnes and the PAT by Balderes made it 29-17. Smith scored his second rushing TD with 5:10 left, this time from 38 yards out. Hernandez's PAT missed but the Gents' lead was a comfortable 36-17.

The Gents' defense recorded four sacks, had six tackles for loss, and forced four fumbles, recovering three. Centenary also posted season highs in both rushing yards (246) and total offense (382) and its 136 passing yards were the second-most this season behind just the 169 posted last weekend against Texas Lutheran University.

By the Numbers:

FIRST DOWNS:

CENTENARY – 16

AUSTIN – 21

RUSHING YARDS:

CENTENARY – 38 ATTEMPTS FOR 246 YARDS

AUSTIN – 46 ATTEMPTS FOR 118 YARDS

PASSING YARDS:

CENTENARY - 136 YARDS

TLU - 187 YARDS

TOTAL OFFENSE:

CENTENARY – 55 PLAYS FOR 382 YARDS

TLU - 68 PLAYS FOR 305 YARDS

TIME OF POSSESSION:

CENTENARY – 28:40

TLU – 31:20

Gents' Individual Statistical Leaders

RECEIVING: Junior WR Trent Smith (Shreveport, La.) – 2 catches for 59 yards

RUSHING: Junior QB Zin'Tavious Smith (Coushatta, La.) – 10 attempts for 135 yards and 2 TD

PASSING: Freshman QB Kody Fuentes (Baytown, Texas) – 9-12 for 117 yards

TACKLES: Freshman DB Delarrious Marshall (Shreveport, La.) and sophomore DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) – 8 total tackles each.

The Gents are back on the road next Saturday for a non-conference contest against ETBU in Marshall, Texas. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

See the complete Gents' season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/fball/2024-25/schedule

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