By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
The Centenary football team recovered from two early deficits and finished strongly in a 41-21 homecoming victory over the Austin College ‘Roos on Saturday evening at Atkins Field.
In their first season of official intercollegiate football in decades, the Gents (4-4, 4-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) completed a season sweep of the ‘Roos (1-7, 1-5 SCAC). Centenary won 36-17 in Sherman, Texas last month.
Austin College found the end zone first, on a 1-yard touchdown run by Zyan Stewart to take 7-0 lead just four minutes into play after recovering a fumble.
Junior Kobe Chambers returned the kickoff 67 yards down to the Austin College 27-yard line. The Gents didn’t move much but got on the board as Vance Feuerbacher (Plano, Texas) kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 7-3 two minutes later.
The Gents took their first lead following an impressive drive that covered 83 yards in just nine plays capped by a 3-yard run by quarterback Zin’Tavious Smith at the 13:34 mark of the second quarter. Smith broke free for a 37-yard gain on 3rd and 5 at the Centenary 32 for the big play of the drive.
Jaylon Talton connected with Michael Cress on a 48-yard TD pass just over a minute later for a 14-10 Austin College edge.
The ‘Roos scored on their next series when Talton and Barnes connected on a 22-yarder giving the visitors a 21-10 lead with 2:48 left in the half.
The Gents reached into their bag of tricks as Chambers hit Trent Smith with a perfectly-executed halfback pass and Smith went 60 yards untouched to the end zone. Feuerbacher’s PAT was blocked but the Gents were down just 21-16 with 2:30 left before intermission.
Centenary’s defense notched a three-and-out and the fired-up Gents moved 47 yards on 10 plays in 1:39 to produce Feuerbacher’s 25-yard FG on the final play of the first half, closing within 21-19.
Zin’Tavious Smith’s 1-yard TD run and Feuerbacher’s PAT gave the Gents a 26-21 lead with 2:08 left in the third quarter. Two possessions later, Feuerbacher’s 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked but after it was touched by an Austin College player and fumbled, Centenary’s Isaiah King recovered it at the 8-yard line to cap a wild play. Two plays later, Smith’s third rushing TD of the game and Feuerbacher’s PAT made it 33-21 with 9:01 remaining.
On AC’s next drive, Gents’ freshman Delarrious Marshall from Green Oaks High school stepped in front of a Talton pass for his second interception of the season. The Gents made it to the AC 19-yard line but were stopped on a fourth-down attempt.
On the next snap, Talton was picked off again, this time by sophomore Bryan Washington, his third of the season. Zin’Tavious Smith then found the end zone on the ground for the fourth time and rushed for the two-point conversion to make it 41-21 with just 3:04 to play.
The pick party continued as another AC pass found the open arms of Evangel product Jacob Wilson who hauled in his team-leading fourth swipe of his freshman season. The coup de gras came when Talton was intercepted again by freshman Dwayne Mills Jr.
Centenary had a balanced and productive offense with 202 yards rushing and 209 passing.
Trent Smith topped Centenary receivers with five catches for 94 yards and a score. Zin’Tavious Smith led the rushing attack with 16 carries, four TDs, for 89 yards, and completed 19 of 28 for 149 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Kris Mesloh from Parkway made five solo tackles (10 total) with a sack and two tackles for loss yards to lead the Gents’ defense.
The Gents will enjoy their bye week and return to action at home on Saturday, Nov. 9 against the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs in a SCAC contest.
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu