Football Selected as "Team of the Week"

Shreveport – The Centenary football team has been selected as Centenary Athletics' "Team of the Week" after the Gents 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 in Sherman, Texas.

The Gents (1-2, 1-1 SCAC) were playing their second of three-straight road contests against the 'Roos following a road loss last weekend at Texas Lutheran University and a meeting this 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.

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. Senior K Enrique Hernandez (Beaumont, Texas) 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.

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.

Sophomore DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week following an outstanding performance in the Gents' 36-17 victory at Austin College on Saturday. 

The Team of the Week for games played Sept. 20-21, presented by Scoutware, is D3football.com's weekly honor roll, in its 26th season of recognizing the top performance at each position from the previous week. Players are nominated by schools.

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. 

Lemons, who was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive 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.

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.

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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