By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
The Centenary football program completed its historic 2024 season last month and the many memorable moments on the field ultimately will pale compared to long-range impact of ongoing facility improvements.
The recently-completed auditorium in the Gold Dome, which seats 119 with a capacity of 140, is the newest addition to an impressive complex that includes the fieldhouse and football practice field adjacent to Atkins Field, home of Gents football.
The 4,700 square foot fieldhouse houses locker rooms for Centenary’s football team along with its women’s soccer and softball teams. The facility, which also includes coaches’ offices, looks out over the 76,500 square foot turf practice field. Atkins Field has a capacity of 2,500 and features a brand-new, state-of-the-art full HD LED video board that is a size of 25 x 15 (375 square feet).
The Gents finished 4-6 overall and 4-4 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play as the sport of football officially returned to campus on the intercollegiate level for the first time in over a half-century.
Centenary’s previous football history began with the Gents’ first game in the fall of 1894 and ended in November of 1941, with a brief attempted revival in the 1960s. The Gents were impressive in their “Independent college season” in 2023, going 9-1 overall in exhibition contests while outscoring their nine opponents, 375-113, and recording three shutouts.
That success led into the 2024 regular season in which the Gents provided their fans many memorable and exciting moments. One of the highlights of the home season came Oct. 26 as the Gents earned a stirring 41-21 comeback victory over the Austin College ‘Roos in league play for Homecoming. Centenary completed a season sweep of the ‘Roos after defeating them 36-17 in Sherman, Texas in September.
Centenary scored 108 points in its five home games, an average of 21.6, and drew nearly 8,000 fans as the excitement and support was evident all season long at Atkins Field.
The Gents, picked for third in the conference in the preseason poll, finished behind co-champions McMurry and Texas Lutheran, who tied for first place with 7-1 conference records. Centenary led the conference in interceptions (15) and finished third in sacks (22). The Gents’ nine fumble recoveries was also second-most in the league. More football recap will follow next week.
VOLLEYBALL: Junior libero Daly Nagot of Benton has been voted to the 2024 Academic All-District® Volleyball team, selected by College Sports Communicators.
The prestigious team recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Nagot, a business administration major with a 3.58 GPA, becomes the first Ladies’ volleyball player since Jaycie Proctor in 2022 to earn the honor. She played in all 25 of Centenary’s matches this past season and tallied a team-high 253 digs (3.33 digs per set), 31 assists, and eight service aces. She is also a two-time member of the SCAC Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: Kylie Zeller, a junior defender/midfielder on the women’s soccer team from Denham Springs, was selected the SCAC Character & Community Female Student-Athlete of the Week for the week in the final week of the fall semester this month.
The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.
Zeller has played in 50 career matches for the Ladies, starting 45, and has scored four goals and added an assist for nine career points. A video interview is available on the gocentenary.com website.
BASKETBALL BREAK: The men’s and women’s basketball teams will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 4 with a conference doubleheader against the University of Ozarks Eagles in Clarksville, Ark. as the women tip at 4 p.m. followed by the men at 6 p.m.
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu