Shreveport, LA - Lyon College Scots football earned 43-36 road victory over the Centenary College Gents this Halloween night. Lyon built a 29-7 halftime advantage before holding off a second-half rally to secure the win. With the victory, the Scots improve to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Lyon set the tone early, opening the game with three first-quarter touchdowns to take a 19-0 lead. Hayden Barton capped the Scots' opening drive with a seven-yard touchdown run with 10:28 remaining in the quarter. Barton added a second rushing score from two yards out at the five-minute mark, finishing a nine-play, 70-yard drive.
The Scots added to their lead late in the first quarter after Bradley Williams recovered a Centenary fumble and returned it 60 yards to the one-yard line. Donovan Jordan punched it in on the next play, giving Lyon a 19-0 advantage.
Centenary got on the scoreboard with a four-yard rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, but Lyon answered with a 28-yard field goal from Jesus Romero-Castillo to make it 22-7. The Scots added another touchdown just before halftime when Grayson Johnson connected with Javarion Williams for a 19-yard scoring pass with nine seconds remaining. Lyon carried a 29-7 lead into the break.
Centenary opened the second half with a touchdown drive to cut the margin to 29-14. The Gents added another score on a 31-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the Scots' lead to 29-20. Lyon responded with a big play of its own as Johnson found Kyree Coleman for a 63-yard touchdown pass with 2:59 remaining in the third quarter. Romero-Castillo's extra point extended the advantage to 36-20.
Centenary continued to battle, scoring a rushing touchdown on the opening drive of the fourth quarter before adding a 45-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 36-36 with 6:29 remaining.
The Scots answered with a decisive six-play, 65-yard drive. Johnson connected with Barton for a seven-yard completion before Barton broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run with 4:23 left. Romero-Castillo converted the extra point to put Lyon back in front, 43-36.
Lyon's defense then came up with a key stop on Centenary's next possession, forcing a turnover on downs at the Scots' 20-yard line. Lyon maintained possession late in the game and held on for the seven-point victory.
Barton led the Scots' ground attack with 114 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. Jordan added 78 rushing yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Johnson completed 17 of 30 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Williams led Lyon's receiving effort with 11 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. Coleman added a 63-yard touchdown reception, while Kingston Herring finished with two catches for 23 yards.
Defensively, William Littell led the Scots with 10 total tackles. Tramane Turner recorded eight tackles and three pass breakups, while Bradley Williams finished with seven tackles and the 60-yard fumble return that set up Lyon's third touchdown. The Scots totaled three tackles for loss and recovered one fumble.
Lyon finished with 457 yards of total offense, including 198 rushing yards and 259 passing yards. The Scots converted eight of 14 third-down attempts and scored on five of their six red-zone opportunities.
Scots will return home to Batesville, AR to face the Hendrix College Warriors on Saturday, November 7th at 1:00 PM in Bad Boy Mowers Stadium.
