Run Game, Defense Helps #RV TLU Roll Centenary, 31-8

SEGUIN, Texas -- #RV Texas Lutheran put on a show for a packed Bulldog Stadium crowd Saturday night in a 31-8 win over Centenary in a first-timer ever matchup between the two schools and to open SCAC play. The game marked the first SCAC game for Texas Lutheran since the conference dropped the sport in 2016.

After being limited to 43 yards in the season opener, the Bulldogs made it a point to get things going on the ground Saturday night, rushing for 287 yards. The Bulldogs run game was led by 100 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Weston Guzman (McAllen/McAllen) while Nehemiah Murry (Luling/Luling) rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries.

Quarterback Caden Bosanko (San Antonio/East Central) threw for 142 yards and a touchdown and ran for 62 yards and two more touchdowns. The Texas Lutheran defense forced three turnovers for the second week in a row including interceptions by Justin Navarro (Edinburg/Robert Vela) and Sean Blanks (Angleton/Angleton).

With the win, Texas Lutheran moves to 2-0 for the first time since the Spring 2021 COVID season.

Texas Lutheran outgained Centenary 429-212 in total offense and held a 287-43 advantage in rushing yards.

Texas Lutheran would score 17 points in the first quarter and never look back. A 34-yard field goal from Joaquin Rodriguez (San Antonio/Smithson Valley) got the Bulldogs on the board, taking a 3-0 lead after their opening drive. The Bulldogs would score in quick succession over the course of their first three drives. The Bulldogs would follow up the opening drive with a 50-yard touchdown connection between Bosanko and freshman Lavonta Henry (San Antonio/Madison), the first of Henry's collegiate career. Bosanko would take care of business on his own with a 31-yard touchdown run the following drive to give TLU an early 17-0 lead.

Both offenses slowed through the middle part of the game until an eight-yard rush from Bosanko extended the Bulldogs lead to 24-0. The Gents were able to avoid the shutout with a touchdown and two point conversion in the third.

A 28-yard rushing touchdown from Guzman provided a last bit of insurance to put the game away in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs won their home opener for the first time since 2021.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were led by last week's SCAC Defensive Player of the Week, Troy Tomaselli (San Antonio/Cornerstone Christian) who finished with eight tackles. Freshman Marvin Farris (Rosenberg/Lamar Consolidated) finished with five tackles, including a tackle for loss.

Texas Lutheran travels to Abilene next Saturday, Sept. 21, to face the McMurry War Hawks in a battle between the top two teams in the 2024 SCAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Kickoff against the War Hawks is set for 6 PM and the game will be streamed on FloSports, which will require a subscription to watch. More info is available here. All streaming and stats links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.

For more information on Texas Lutheran football, follow the Bulldogs on X (Twitter) and Instagram (@TLU_Football) and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on X (Twitter,) @tlu_athletics on Instagram, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).