Gents Fall At McMurry To Cap 2024 Season

Abilene, Texas – The Centenary football team fell 49-12 to the McMurry University War Hawks in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest as the Gents completed their 2024 season at Wilford Moore Stadium.

The Gents finish their historic season at 4-6 overall and 4-4 in SCAC play. The War Hawks improved to 7-3 overall and 7-1 in SCAC action.

How it happened:

The Gents won the toss and elected to receive. After seven plays that yielded just 21 yards, Centenary punted, but the Gents' defense then stopped the War Hawks on a 4^th and 1 play at the McMurry 44-yard line as sophomore DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) stuffed Drew Hagler for no gain.

Two plays later, junior RB Josh Ware (Shreveport, La.) fumbled and the War Hawks recovered. But, the Gents' defense again stood strong and allowed just six yards and forced a punt.

McMurry scored on its next possession as QB Jess Hoel scored on a 43-yard touchdown run and Jax Rodriguez added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 4:44 left in the first quarter. Hoel scored again on the first play of the second quarter as he found the end zone from 2 yards out and Rodriguez's PAT made it 14-0 at the 14:53 mark of the second period.

Rodriguez made it 17-0 with a 26-yard field goal with 10:21 left in the quarter Four possessions later, Hoel was sacked by freshman DL Gideon Bowman (Destrehan, La.) and he fumbled which sophomore LB Devon Strickland (Shreveport, La.) recovered at the 9-yard line of the War Hawks. The Gents wasted no time in cashing in on the turnover as junior QB Zin'Tavious Smith (Coushatta, La.) connected with junior WR Kobe Chambers (Greenwood, Miss.) on a 9-yard TD pass on the next play. Smith's 2-point conversion pass attempt failed but the Gents got on the board to make it 17-6 with 2:32 remaining before halftime.

McMurry, though, responded with a 7-play scoring drive as Hoel threw a 16-yard TD pass to Kristopher Martin. Rodriguez missed the PAT but he War Hawks extended their lead to 23-6 with just 33 seconds remaining in the half.

The War Hawks needed just six plays on their first possession of the second half to score again as Jack Ishmael's 12-yard TD run and Rodriguez's PAT made it 30-6 with 11:45 left in the third quarter. Hoel and Martin connected again for a 42-yard TD pass with 1:57 left in the third quarter but the Gents blocked Rodriguez's PAT as the score was 36-6.

Smith was sacked and fumbled on the Gents' next possession and the War Hawks recovered and Hoel tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Martin and Bruce Brown made the PAT for a 43-6 lead with 1:38 left in the third.

Chambers returned the kickoff 80 yards for a TD and the Gents went for two but the attempt failed, but that made it 43-12 with 1:23 on the clock. Martin caught his fourth TD pass of the game as he and Hoel found each other for a 71-yard scoring play with 1:02 left in the third quarter to cap the scoring. Owen Painter's PAT failed but the War Hawks took a 49-12 lead. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

Hoel finished 15-23 for 287 yards and 4 TD and rushed 14 times for 91 yards and two TD's on the ground. Martin had 13 receptions for 212 yards and 4 TD.

By the Numbers:

FIRST DOWNS:

CENTENARY – 11

McMurry – 20

RUSHING YARDS:

CENTENARY – 27 ATTEMPTS FOR 14 YARDS

McMurry – 31 ATTEMPTS FOR 138 YARDS

PASSING YARDS:

CENTENARY – 103 YARDS

McMurry – 354 YARDS

TOTAL OFFENSE:

CENTENARY – 65 PLAYS FOR 117 YARDS

McMurry – 63 PLAYS FOR 492 YARDS

TIME OF POSSESSION:

CENTENARY – 29:43

McMurry – 30:17

Gents' Individual Statistical Leaders:

RECEIVING: Sophomore WR Jay Richardson – 6 catches for 47 yards

RUSHING: Junior RB Bobby Shanklin Jr. (Macon, Miss.)  – 13 carries for 33 yards

PASSING: Junior QB Zin'Tavious Smith (Coushatta, La.) – 13-20 for 62 yards and 1 TD

TACKLES: Sophomore DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) – 7 total tackles (5 solo)

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

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