Turnovers Doom 'Roos in Loss to Centenary

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team dropped a 36-17 decision to visiting Centenary College in the first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference game of the year for both programs, as the Gents scored three defensive touchdowns to hand the 'Roos the defeat. Austin College is now 0-3 on the year.

The Gents turned three Austin College fumbles into scoop-and-scores during the game, which ended up being the difference in what had been an otherwise evenly-matched battle. Centenary got on the board midway through the first with a 21-yard field goal by Enrique Hernandez, but Austin College matched that score with a 33-yarder by Caleb Balderas with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter to make it 3-3 through the first 15 minutes.

Neither team managed to add any points in the second quarter, but Centenary was able to turn a fumble by Zyan Stewart into points on the opening drive of the third quarter, with Gideon Bowman recovering and taking it 20 yards to the house to make it 9-3 after Jeremiah Contreras blocked the point after attempt. Austin College put together a strong drive down into the red zone, going 65 yards in 11 plays, but after catching a pass at the five, Trey Adams had the ball jarred lose and Jacob Black scooped it up and raced 90 yards for the second defensive touchdown for the Gents in as many possessions. The point after was once again blocked, making it 15-3 with 7:48 left in the period.

Austin College got on the board on the next drive, with a 42-yard pass from Jaylon Talton to Tony Penson setting the 'Roos up deep in Centenary territory, and Barrett Hudson capped the seven play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown from a yard out to make it 15-10 with 4:44 showing on the clock. That's how things would finish after three, but a fumbled exchange on the handoff from Talton to Hudson ended up in the hands of Gavin Jack, who went 60 yards for the team's third and final defensive score of the game, making it 23-10 with 12:40 left in the game after the two-point conversion was successful.

The Gents added another score five minutes later, as Centenary quarterback Zin-Tavious Smith went 25 yards for the touchdown to make it 29-10 after a failed two point conversion. The 'Roos answered back on the ensuing possession, going 69 yards in six plays, capped off by a 10-yard strike from Talton to DQ Barnes to cut it to a 29-17 game. The Gents recovered the onside kick attempt at the Austin College 42 yardline, and three plays later Smith raced 38 yards for his second touchdown of the quarter to make it 36-17, and that's how things would end.

Talton finished 11-of-21 for 187 yards and a score, and Stewart rushed 14 times for 58 yards while Hudson added 40 yards on 15 carries. Penson caught six passes for 91 yards, while Colton Gerken and Pablo Cantu each had nine tackles to lead Austin College defensively. Smith finished with 135 rushing yards on 10 carries, and completed 3-of-3 passes for 18 yards while Kody Fuentes connected on 9-of-12 passes for 117 yards. Josh Ware added 72 yards on 10 rushes, and Jack finished with six tackles, including 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack to go along with his fumble recovery touchdown.

Austin College is back in action next Saturday, playing host to McMurry University at Apple Stadium with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.