2025 CENTENARY ATHLETICS FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

2025-26 CENTENARY ATHLETICS FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Centenary's 2025-26 Athletics Season begins on Friday as the women's soccer team opens its regular season versus the Belhaven University Blazers in a non-conference match set for 4 p.m. in Jackson, Miss.

The men's cross country team begins its season on Friday evening at 6 PM in the Lumberjack Invitational hosted by Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

The men's soccer team takes the field for its regular-season opener versus Texas College for a non-conference match set for 7 PM on Friday at Atkins Field.

The women's volleyball team takes its home court on Saturday for a non-conference contest versus Wiley University at 11 AM in the Gold Dome. Women's soccer will face Howard Payne University on Sunday at NOON in its home opener, and the weekend concludes on Monday evening as the men's soccer team faces Dallas Christian College on 7 PM at Atkins Field.

The football season is just over a week away as the Gents will open their season at home against Westgate Christian University on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Atkins Field (6 PM) … Enjoy the previews below and as always .... GO LADIES AND GENTS!

MEN'S & WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

The Ladies and Gents are led by head coach Joseph Moses Jr., in his fourth season at the helm, and is aided by first-year assistant coach Faith Hudson.

The Gents will run on Friday in Nacogdoches, Texas as the meet begins at 6:30 p.m. with the three-mile run at Pecan Acres Park and next weekend the Ladies will join as the team compete in the UT Tyler Cross Country Opener on Sept. 6 in Tyler, Texas.

Centenary had the honor of hosting the 2024 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships last season in Bossier City. The Ladies and Gents welcomed the league's 22 cross country teams for the event and with the additions of Concordia University (Texas), McMurry University and University of the Ozarks to the SCAC, 11 men's and 11 women's teams competed at the meet - creating the largest fields on both sides since the 2011 championships. 

Sophomore Phillip Hughes (Bossier City, La.) was the Gents' top finisher as he placed 87^th overall in a time of 30:58.01.

The Maroon and White will compete in a meet hosted by the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Friday, Sept. 12 and then at Grambling State University on Oct. 10. The Ladies and Gents then close their seasons on Saturday, Nov. 1 in the 2025 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship in Houston, Texas.

MEN'S SOCCER

The Gents, led by fifth-year head coach Kevin White, will begin their season on Friday evening with a non-conference match against Texas College set for 7 PM at Atkins Field.

Joe O'Sullivan enters his first season as the Gents' assistant coach. O'Sullivan, a native of England, relocated to Florida at the age of 14 where he quickly found his stride on the soccer pitch. His collegiate career spanned four programs, each showcasing his consistent impact and competitive drive.

The Gents, coming off their most wins since the 2019 season, were picked to finish eighth In the SCAC Preseason Poll, earning 59 points. Centenary is scheduled to play 18 regular-season matches – nine at home and nine on the road.

The Gents return 15 players and welcome 12 newcomers (true freshmen and transfers) and eight returnees accounted for 10 goals, nine assists, and 29 points. Senior GK Sam Brocato (Leesville, La.) is back after he played in two matches, starting both, and logged 159:12 of playing time last season. Brocato started and went the distance (90:00) in the Gents' 3-3 tie versus Schreiner University last season and made a career-high eight saves.

Junior F Carter Webb (Flower Mound, Texas) is the Gents' leading returning goal scorer as he had a breakout campaign in 2024. Webb played in 18 matches and made 17 starts and was tied for second on the team in goals scored with four. He added one assist for a total of nine points, good for fifth most on the team. He took 25 (shots fourth on team) with 10 coming on goal.

Sophomore MF Hayden Hughes (Dallas, Texas) played in 15 matches as a rookie last season and was tied for second on the team in assists with four and is the Gents' returning leader in the category.

The Gents finished 7-9-2 overall and 3-7-1 in SCAC play last season as their seven victories were their most since winning eight in 2019 and their three conference wins were also their most since winning three in 2020. Centenary was extremely competitive as the Maroon and White lost four matches by a score of 1-0 and allowed two goals or less in seven matches.

Centenary was a consistent and impressive offensive club as the Gents scored 34 goals and tallied 30 assists for a total of 98 points as the 34 goals are the most in a single season in the division III era (2011-present) and the number of assists and points are also new program records. The Gents were a well-balanced offensive team as 13 players recorded at least one assist while 12 scored at least one goal.

The Gents set a division III program era record for goals in a game with a 9-0 blowout victory over the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) Owls on Sept. 13 at home as they raced out to a 5-0 lead at halftime and added four more goals in the second half over the Owls to coast to the win. The previous record for goals in a game was set in a 7-0 win over Hendrix College on Sept. 24, 2019. All but one of the Gents' nine goals was assisted as the eight assists sets a new D3-era record for assists in a match and the 26 points in the match is also a new D-3 era record for points in a match.

Senior F Gabriel Aragon (Forney, Texas), junior D Dylan Clark (Allen, Texas), senior MF Brandon Guevara (Henderson, Texas), junior D Hayden McConnell (Flower Mound, Texas), junior MF Jacob Ramsey (Baton Rouge, La.)., and junior F Fernando Santos (Bridgeport, Texas) are all back after combining for six goals and four assists last season.

Centenary will play seven non-conference matches and 11 SCAC contests with its league opener set for Friday, Sept. 26 at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. The Gents will face Colorado College on Friday, Oct. 3 in their first SCAC home match – the first of six home league tilts. Centenary will play away from home in conference five times, including its regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Houston, Texas against the University of St. Thomas. The Gents' annual Senior Day match is set for Oct. 26 against Concordia University.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Morgan Dorsey enters her sixth season as head coach of the women's soccer program in 2025. 

The Ladies, who finished 3-13-2 overall and 1-9-0 in SCAC play in 2024, return a pair of All-SCAC players from last season - senior MF Aubrey Burkhardt (Bossier City, La.) and junior MF Sarah Crenshaw (Alexandria, La.) along with a trio of their top offensive players in senior D/MF Kylie Zeller (Denham Springs, La.), sophomore F Jenevieve Willis (Bossier City, La.). and sophomore MF Sydney Hamm (Sterlington, La.).

Merlinn Campagna has joined the staff as an Assistant Coach for the Ladies as she comes to Shreveport from the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs (UCCS) where she was the head women's soccer of the Club team. Campagna played collegiately at division 1 Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, as she was a four-year starter and team captain from 2012-15. 

Centenary, picked to finish 10th in the conference in the preseason poll, scored 22 goals last season and added 18 assists as 13 different players scored at least one goal and 11 had at least one assist. Zeller and Willis tied for the team lead in goals scored with three each and Hamm had a team-high three assists. Willis had a team-leading eight points with Zeller right behind her with seven.

Burkhardt and Crenshaw had identical offensive stats as each scored two goals and tallied two assists for a total of six points apiece. Burkhardt played in all 18 of the Ladies' matches, starting 16, and Crenshaw started all 18 matches in her first season with the Maroon and White after transferring from Roanoke College.

The Ladies' large and deep roster features 19 returnees and 12 newcomers – two transfers and 10 true freshmen. Senior D/MF Kaitlyn Bordelon (Shreveport, La.) and junior D Kailey Hancock (Dickinson, Texas) each started all 18 of the Ladies' matches last season and Bordelon recorded two goals, one assist, and five points while Hancock scored one goal, the first of her career, and totaled two points on the season.

Junior MF Shona Carlton (Ponchatoula, La.) played in 16 matches, including two starts and scored two goals for four total points. Senior F/MF Lowrey Lain (Haughton, La.) played in 16 matches, including five starts and recorded one goal and one assist for three total points. Junior MF Caila Baldwin (Gretna, La.) played in 11 matches, including two starts and recorded one goal, two assists, and four points on the season. Sophomore MF/F Kaylee Harris (Dickinson, Texas) played in 18 matches, including one start as she scored one goal and recorded two total points. Senior D Madi Cooley (Natchez, Miss.) and sophomore D Ava Overstake (Killeen, Texas) also return after each played in all 18 matches last season and combined for 20 starts.

Following the Ladies' season opener on Friday at Belhaven, they will take a day off and prep for their home opener on Sunday against Howard Payne University in a non-conference contest set for NOON at Atkins Field.

Centenary will play 18 regular-season matches this season – 12 at home and just six on the road while playing 10 SCAC contests and eight non-conference matches. Sunday's home match is the first of a string of seven-consecutive appearances for the Ladies on their home field, as they will not leave the friendly confines of Atkins Field until their league opener set for Friday, Sept. 26 at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

The Ladies' first home conference match will be against the University of Dallas on Sunday, Oct. 5. Centenary's regular-season finale is set for Saturday, Nov. 1 in Houston, Texas against the University of St. Thomas. The Ladies' annual Senior Day match is set for Oct. 26 against Concordia University.

VOLLEYBALL

The Ladies, under the guidance of second-year head coach Kayla Black, will feature basically a brand-new squad this season as just two players – sophomore OH Laijah Rockward (Houma, La.) and junior S/DS Hannah Dimmel (Navasota, Texas) return. Nine fresh faces will join the Ladies this season.

Centenary, picked to finish 12^th in the SCAC preseason poll, aim to improve upon its 2024 season in which the Ladies finished 1-25 overall and 0-15 in SCAC play. Joshua Spivey has joined the staff as an assistant coach. Spivey, a Manteca, Calif. native, comes to Shreveport after coaching at California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, Calif. He graduated from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. in 2019 with his AA, and then received his BA at California State University, Stanislaus in 2025. Spivey has coached at the high school and college level prior to coming to Centenary.

The Ladies are scheduled to play 26 regular-season matches with 10 at home, which includes their final five in the month of November in the Gold Dome. Centenary will open SCAC play on Sept, 23 at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas and the Ladies' first league match at home is scheduled for Sept. 27 against Hendrix College.

The Ladies will play 16 conference contests and 10 non-conference opponents. Centenary will play a pair of home contests on Senior Day, facing both Rhodes College and LeTourneau on Saturday, Nov. 8.

FOOTBALL

A highly-anticipated season for the Gents begins on Saturday, Sept. 6 as they welcome Westgate Christian University to Atkins Field with kickoff set for 6 PM.

The Gents, led by head coach and Shreveport native Byron Dawson, are scheduled to play nine regular-season games – five at home and four on the road. Centenary will play Millsaps College on Sept. 13 in Jackson, Miss. and return home to face East Texas Baptist University on Sept. 20. The Gents will have a bye week on Sept. 27 and then play at Austin College on Oct. 4 in Sherman, Texas.

Centenary's first league game is Oct. 11 versus Texas Lutheran University, on Oct. 18 the Gents are at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark., and they close the month of October at home versus McMurry University for a conference contest on Oct. 25. Centenary will face Hendrix College on Nov. 1 in Conway, Ark. and are back home on Nov. 8 to face the 'Roos of Austin College again to close the regular season on Senior Night.

The SCAC will feature a new and exciting format for determining its league champion this season as all six schools (Austin College, Centenary, Hendrix, Lyon, McMurry, and TLU) will meet on Nov. 15 in Little Rock, Ark. for championship weekend held at War Memorial Stadium with an exciting day featuring three games - the No. 5 versus the No. 6 seed, the No. 3 seed versus the No. 4 seed, and the top two seeds playing each other.

The offseason was full of exciting news for the program as Hal Mumme, one of the most innovative and dynamic offensive minds in the history of college football, joined the staff as the offensive coordinator and Cody Leach, son of former longtime head coach and offensive mastermind Mike Leach, also joined as the Offensive Line/Special Teams Coach.

Mumme, widely recognized as one of the originators of the "Air Raid" offense, brings his expertise to Dawson's staff for the 2025 season. Mumme, a native of San Antonio, has coached at various levels, from high school to the NCAA, and is known for his innovative offensive strategies. Mumme played collegiately at New Mexico Military Institute and Tarleton State University.

Leach, a 2021 BYU graduate, joins the staff after three seasons working with special teams at Mississippi State University, where he and his father coached one season together (2022) in Starkville. Mike Leach, co-founder of the "Air Raid" offense, was offensive coordinator on Mumme's staff at Iowa Wesleyan University in 1989 and the two spent three seasons there before moving to Valdosta State (1992–1996) and then Kentucky (1997–1998). 

The Gents were picked to finish fourth in the conference this season in the preseason poll and claimed the final first-place vote with 18 total points. The Gents completed their historic 2024 season 4-6 overall and 4-4 in SCAC play as the sport returned to campus for the first time in over a half-century under the leadership of Dawson.

The Gents provided their fans many memorable and exciting moments all season long whether away or at the friendly confines of Atkins Field. Centenary scored 108 points in its five home games, an average of 21.6 PPG, and drew nearly 8,000 fans as the excitement and support was evident all season long on the Centenary campus. 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. 

Junior DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) was named to the D3football.com Preseason All-America Team, landing a spot on the Third Team Defense. Lemons had a stellar season for the Gents in 2024 as he was one of the country's top defensive players and was named to the D3football.com All-Region Team and named to the 2024 All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Team, earning First-team honors at defensive tackle.

Plenty of talent returns this season, headlined by six other players (in addition to Lemons) who were named All-SCAC last season - junior QB Vance Feuerbacher (Plano, Texas), junior OL Jordan Taylor (Frisco, Texas), junior DB Bryan Washington (Wylie, Texas), junior OL Alexander Hamilton (St. Rose, La.), junior TE Isaiah King (Weatherford, Texas), and junior LB Devon Strickland (Shreveport, La.) and senior QB Zin'Tavious Smith (Coushatta, La.) finished fourth in the conference in total offense – fourth in passing and seventh in rushing, as he had 1,312 yards of total offense for the season and scored 14 touchdowns.

Feuerbacher cemented himself as one of the conference's top all-around players as he played linebacker and quarterback and punted and kicked during the season. He finished 10th in the league in total offense, averaging 36.9 yards per game, tied for 11th place in the conference in tackles and averaged 5.0 per game. He ranked second in the conference in punting (373. Average) with a long of 50 and punted 28 times. He was 4-6 on field goal attempts with a long of 38 and finished 13-15 on PAT's.

Tickets for all home events this weekend along with all Centenary athletics Fall home events are on sale now via the official Centenary athletics web site so be sure to get your tickets in advance and come cheer the Ladies and Gents in person this weekend, this Fall and throughout the athletics season.

Tickets can be purchased now at the following link: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/la/shreveport/organization/69826/centenary-college-of/tickets

A new policy implemented will require fans to pay to attend all 2025-26 Centenary home athletic events and tickets can only be purchased online. NO cash sales will be available. Centenary students, faculty & staff are allowed into every home event FREE with a valid Centenary ID.

Centenary Athletics also announced that it has agreed to an exclusive media rights contract with FloSports. Last year, Centenary had a dual-partnership with both FloSports and KTALnews.com, but starting this Fall and for the entire 2025-26 season, all Centenary home athletic events will stream on the FloCollege subscription-based streaming platform.

The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and FloSports entered into the media rights deal at the start of the 2024-25 season, making this year two of the partnership. All of the SCAC's 12 member institutions will use the platform in 2025-26.

With 100 percent of revenue generated from the partnership being reinvested into SCAC member institutions, the agreement promises to create a more equitable standard across the conference for all broadcasts and further enhances production capabilities and quality of coverage across all sports. FloSports will also leverage the local, national and international brands of SCAC member institutions by producing original content and social media programming.

FloSports is available on the web and for download on mobile devices (iOS and Android) as well as smart TVs and streaming devices Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. To subscribe to FloSports please visit https://www.flosports.tv/

See the complete 2025-26 home composite schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/composite

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