Gents Set To Face ETBU On Road

Marshall, Texas - The Centenary football team is back on the road this Saturday as the Gents will face the East Texas Baptist University Tigers in a non-conference game set for 6 p.m. at Ornelas Stadium.

Live stats and live video are available for the game at the links below:

STATS: https://goetbutigers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

VIDEO: https://goetbutigers.com/watch/live

The Gents (1-2) achieved a milestone moment last Saturday their return to the gridiron this Fall as the they 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 in Sherman, Texas.

"Coach Ruzicka and his staff have done a good job developing his team this season," said Centenary head coach Byron Dawson.

"They have several new talented players on their roster. On Saturday night, we'll need to excel in all three phases of the game. It's crucial that we continue improving each week - learning from last week's mistakes, and building on our successes. We're also excited that our fans will have the chance to attend a road game so close to home in Marshall, Texas … Go Gents!"

The Gents' defense recorded four sacks, had six tackles for loss, and forced four fumbles, recovering three in the win over Austin College last weekend. 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 against Texas Lutheran University on Sept. 14. Centenary scored three times on defense in the game, all coming in the second half.

Sophomore DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday following an outstanding performance against Austin College. Lemons, who was named the SCAC Player of the Week on Monday, had a stellar performance on Saturday night as he recorded a team-leading eight total tackles and had a team-best two sacks with a team-high two tackles for loss. Lemons also forced a fumble to lead a Gents' defense that recorded four sacks, had six tackles for loss, and forced four fumbles, recovering three.

Lemons becomes the second Gent to earn a spot on the prestigious national team this season after freshman DB Jacob Wilson (Shreveport, La.) made the team on Week one. 

Freshman DL Gideon Bowman (Destrehan, La.) came up with a big defensive play early in the third quarter last Saturday 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. 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 Jacob Wilson 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.

Centenary's defense continued to make impressive and game-changing plays as sophomore DL/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. Smith scored his second rushing TD with 5:10 left, this time from 38 yards out. The PAT missed but the Gents' lead was a comfortable 36-17.

Smith currently ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (51.7) while junior WR Kobe Chambers (Greenwood, Miss.) is second in the league in receiving yards per game at 64.3 as he has 17 catches for 193 yards this season.

Defensively, Jack and Lemons are tied for second in the conference in sacks with two each, while Wilson's two INT's are second and Lemons' 3.5 tackles for loss rank third.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS:

ETBU is off to a 2-0 start this season with a pair of blowout wins over LaGrange (57-12) and Hendrix (63-28).

The Tigers have finished 5-5 in each of the last three seasons.

QB Kaden Brown has thrown 638 yards with eight TD's and 0 INT's so far this season. Paul Woodard has rushed 20 times for 143 yards and two TD's and Zay Thomas has 11 catches for 220 yards and a TD.

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

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