'Roos Cap Season with Win Over Centenary

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Austin College football team finished off the 2025 campaign with its third victory over the year over Centenary College, as the 'Roos got a fourth quarter field goal from Caleb Balderas to go on top 16-14 and held on in the closing minutes at the first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship Weekend. With the win, the 'Roos wrap up the year with a 3-6 record and a fifth place finish in the conference.

The first quarter was scoreless, as both teams put together solid drives but were unable to convert, starting with the 'Roos blocking a 33-yard field goal attempt after the Gents ate up more than six minutes on the opening drive of the game. The 14 play, 49 yard drive ended with Nick Anderson blocking the kick, but Austin College's own ensuing possession culminated in a turnover on downs. The 'Roos went 64 yards on nine plays, but couldn't pick up a fourth and one to keep the drive alive.

Centenary's next possession ended with a fumble near the end of the first quarter, but Austin College gave the ball back to the Gents with an interception on the first play of the second. The 'Roo defense held strong, however, forcing a turnover on downs of their own, and the first points of the game came on the next drive as Austin College went 71 yards in 15 plays, chewing up nearly eight minutes of game time. Jaylon Talton capped the drive with a one yard touchdown plunge on fourth and goal from the one to make it 7-0 with 3:08 left in the first half.

After most of the opening half being scoreless, a flurry of points were put on the board beginning with Talton's touchdown, as Centenary answered back less than a minute later when Obadiah Butler got loose for a 63 yard touchdown run to even the score, and the 'Roos answered right back with Talton finding Jermiah Johnson for a 34 yard touchdown strike with 57 seconds left in the second quarter. The point after attempt was unsuccessful, making it 13-7 at the half.

Neither team was able to put points on the board in the third quarter, but after the Gents scooped up an Austin College fumble and returned it all the way to inside the Austin College 10 yard line, Butler found the endzone for the second time from four yards out to put Centenary on top 14-13 with 14:16 left to play. Austin College responded with its longest drive of the day, eating up 8:10 on the clock and covering 76 yards on 17 plays. The 'Roos were unable to get into the endzone, but Balderas booted home a 23 yard field goal to put Austin College up 16-14 with six minutes to play, and that's how things would eventually end.

Evan Dennis came up with a huge interception to end Centenary's next possession, and Jon Rawles Thompson came up with a huge fourth down conversion from Austin College's own side of the field with under two minutes left, allowing the 'Roos to run out the clock and secure the win. The victory comes after Austin College defeated Centenary twice during the regular season, marking the first time the 'Roos have played a team three times in a season since 1986, when Austin College and McMurry squared off three times.

Talton completed 11-of-16 passes for 136 yards with a touchdown and a pick, adding 49 rushing yards and a score on five carries. Zyan Stewart had a huge game on the ground, rushing 29 times for 129 yards, and Thompson added 47 yards on 13 carries. Johnson led all receivers in the game with five catches for 85 yards and a score, and Pablo Cantu had 11 tackles, including seven solo stops, and forced a fumble in the win. Butler led Centenary with 138 rushing yards on 17 carries, scoring both touchdowns for the Gents.