By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
Lots of fall sports competition is underway for Centenary but there’s no doubt the positive vibes are still being felt from last Saturday’s official return to football competition.
Although the Gents didn’t prevail, good things continue to spin out of that opener.
FOOTBALL: Freshman defensive back Jacob Wilson was honored nationally on Tuesday as he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week after he had a pair of interceptions on Saturday night in the Gents’ season-opening loss at home to Hendrix. His second pick of the game led to a Centenary TD two plays later.
Wilson, a former Evangel Christian Academy Eagle, finished with two solo tackles to go with his two picks.
In their official return to NCAA college football, the Gents fell 43-20 to the Hendrix College Warriors in front of an overflow crowd at Atkins Field but the final score could not deter the excitement and buzz that was evident the entire day leading up to the game and throughout the contest itself.
The Gents will hit the road as they open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday against the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs in Seguin, Texas.
CROSS COUNTRY: The Centenary men’s and women’s teams opened their seasons last Friday evening as the Ladies and Gents competed in The Opener at Mississippi College at Choctaw Trails.
In the men’s 5k race, Centenary’s times: Phillip Hughes, 19:53.1; Joseph Coleman, 23:04.2; Evan Halbert, 23:43.0; Clayton Hancock, 24:18.0; Herman Pride, 26:30.4; Richard Ross, 30:41.6.
In the women’s 5k, the Ladies’ times: Amiyah Barrow, 25:52.9; Julissa Cabrera, 25:55.3; Brooklyn Cooper, 30:04.8; Bethany Leach, 35:29.7.
The Ladies and Gents return to action in the Nicholls XC Invitational in Thibodaux on Sept. 28.
MEN’S SOCCER: The Gents earned a 1-1 tie against the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets last Friday in a non-conference contest and the Gents’ home opener at Atkins Field.
The Gents (1-1-1) and Yellow Jackets (0-1-2) each scored their goals in the first half and a scoreless second half followed. Centenary now leads the all-time series 3-0-1.
Howard Payne struck first as Ian Bryant scored with the assist going to Taylor Hefner in the 11th minute. Senior Hunter Booth tied the score in the 39th minute, notching his second goal of the season.
Booth, following a corner kick, headed the ball into the next for the tying score after a pass from junior Eoin Hamill who was credited with the assist. Freshman goalkeeper Sebastian Lutin started for the third match in a row for the Gents and played all 90 minutes, making three saves.
Centenary remains at home and will play a pair of home matches this weekend as the Maroon and White will square off with Mississippi University for Women on Friday before Ouachita Baptist, a Division II program, comes to town on Sunday.
VOLLEYBALL: The Ladies will play three matches this weekend in the Millsaps Invitational in Jackson, Miss. Against Huntingdon College, LeTourneau, and the host Majors.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: The Ladies are on the road this weekend for a pair of non-conference contests as they face LaGrange College on Saturday and Huntingdon College on Sunday.
GOLF: Centenary’s men’s and women’s golf teams tee off their seasons on Sunday at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Preview in Whitney, Texas. The tournament runs through Tuesday.
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu