Austin College Roos give a Texas beatdown to Centenary

SHERMAN, Texas (KTEN) - Austin College Roos give a Texas beatdown to Centenary 41-15!

Courtesy of Austin College Athletics -

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team piled up 508 yards of total offense, using a big second quarter to open up a 24-0 halftime lead and the 'Roos never looked back in a 41-15 victory over visiting Centenary College on Saturday evening at Jerry E. Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 1-2 overall on the year.

Jaylon Talton threw for 303 yards and a trio of touchdowns while adding 59 rushing yards and another score, while Michael Cress hauled in 12 receptions for 170 yards and Zyan Stewart rushed for 96 yards and a score and caught a pair of touchdowns in the victory. The game was scoreless through the opening quarter before the 'Roos erupted for 24 second quarter points, getting on the board with 11:18 left in the half on a nine yard touchdown run by Talton to cap off a seven play, 91 yard drive highlighted by a 44 yard scramble from Talton.

Caleb Balderas added a 39 yard field goal four and a half minutes later to make it 10-0, and Austin College struck again with 2:34 left, this time with Stewart hauling in a highlight reel touchdown reception, diving for a one-handed catch to make it 17-0. Austin College got the ball back one more time in the half, and Stewart caught his second touchdown pass with 25 seconds left to send the 'Roos into the locker room leading 24-0.

Centenary got on the board early in the third, taking their opening drive 74 yards in 11 plays with Trent Smith catching a three yard touchdown pass from Vance Feuerbacher, but Austin College quickly got those points back as Talton connected with Tim Gracey for a 48 yard strike to make it 31-7 with 7:50 remaining in the period. Austin College pushed the margin to 34-7 just before the end of the quarter on a 30 yard field goal by Balderas.

The Gents cut it to 34-15 following a one yard plunge from Feuerbacher and a successful two-point conversion, but after Centenary recovered the onside kick, Austin College's defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs. The 'Roos iced the game on the ensuing drive, marching 71 yards in nine plays with Stewart busting loose for a 30 yard touchdown scamper with 2:57 left to make it a 41-15 final.

Talton completed 22-of-30 passes to eclipse 300 yards through the air, and Stewart rushed 22 times to get his 96 yards. Austin DeLay added 28 yards on three catches, and John Rawles Thompson rushed for 50 yards on 12 carries and caught one pass for 26 yards. Pablo Cantu led the 'Roos defensively with 11 tackles and Eliel Sandoval added eight, while Ryder Marshall had six stops, including 2.0 tackles-for-loss. Feuerbacher completed 29-of-50 passes for 258 yards and Christopher Jackson rushed nine times for 65 yards for the Gents. Theon Dunn led the Gents with 70 receiving yards on five catches, and Colin Watkins and D'Qavion Lemons both had 10 tackles for Centenary.