JOURNAL SPORTS

Centenary is early in its second official season of NCAA Division III football.

Not only has East Texas Baptist won 151 games at that level, the Tigers have been playing football for 101 years.

History is one thing. Current year results are more compelling: ETBU is 2-0, routing Lyon College 47-8 and blanking NAIA member Oklahoma Panhandle State 28-0 last week.

Meanwhile, Centenary officially kicked off its nine-game schedule on the road last week and was overwhelmed 56-14 at Millsaps.

The Gents host the Tigers Saturday evening at 6 at Atkins Field next to the Gold Dome on the south end of the Centenary campus.

It will be the officlal home debut for accomplished Gents’ offensive coordinator Hal Mumme, who will look for improvement from his side while head coach Byron Dawson will be zoning In on shorting up the Centenary defense.

Junior Vance Feuerbacher was all over the field for the Gents last week as he completed 18-25 for 115 yards through the air and rushed seven times for 32 yards and a TD. He led the Gents on an 18-play, 99-yard drive and capped it with a 1-yard TD run to tie the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter. He also punted seven times for 234 yards (33.4 average) with a long of 44.

Senior Zin’Tavious Smith  completed 10-15 passes for 55 yards and rushed seven times for 57 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Collin Watkins led the Gents with 10 total tackles, five solo and five assisted, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup. 

In a prior homefield outing earlier this month, Centenary rolled past Westgate Christian 42-7 in an exhibition contest.