Colonels Spoil Homecoming for 'Roo Football

The Austin College football team came into Saturday's game averaging better than 200 yards per game on the ground, but a strong Centre College defensive unit stymied the 'Roo rushing attack all game on their way to handing the 'Roos a 17-0 loss on Homecoming Weekend. The 'Roos are now 2-6 overall this season. 

After forcing the 'Roos to punt on their first possession, Centre quickly took the ball down the field going 87 yards in 10 plays and eating up just 3:05, culminating in a two yard touchdown dive by Monte Scotton to make it a 7-0 game with 8:39 left in the opening quarter. That would be the only scoring in the quarter, and early in the second quarter the Colonels would miss a field goal attempt to keep it a 7-0 game. 

The 'Roo defense looked to be putting something together on the next Colonel possession, but on second and 15 deep in Austin College territory Centre quarterback Heath Haden ran 47 yards for a first down. The 'Roos answered with a sack by Scott Loy and a tackle for loss by Nathan Packard to make it third and 22, but Haden found Harry Meisner on a screen pass and Meisner raced 39 yards for the touchdown to make it 14-0 heading into halftime. 

Centre looked to extend its lead midway through the third quarter, but an intentional grounding call made it 4^th and 21 and the Colonels missed another field goal, this time from 41 yards away to keep it a 14-0 game. The 'Roos started putting something together on the ensuing drive, going 49 yards before being stopped after going for it on fourth and eight. 

The 'Roo defense held strong but on their next possession a fumble on a handoff gave the ball back to Centre, and after the 'Roos held on first and goal from the four the Colonels settled for a 21 yard field goal to make it a 17-0 game. The 'Roos would get one more chance after DeAndre Holmes forced a fumble on a sack deep in Austin College territory, but Sam Spees picked off a Noah Jesko pass and returned it 32 yards to the Austin College eight yard line with just over a minute remaining, allowing the Colonels to take a knee and run out the clock. 

Jesko finished the game 13-of-18 for 97 yards. Madison Ross made five catches for 49 yards and Sean Sweeney carried eight times for 34 yards as the 'Roos were held to just 56 net rushing yards. Packard made 10 tackles and Loy finished with nine in the game to lead the 'Roos. 

Haden went 18-of-32 for 237 yards with a touchdown and an interception added 57 yards on 10 carries, and Jason Osterman made seven catches for 103 yards. Scotton carried 21 times for 89 yards and a score. Michael Bozarth had eight tackles to lead a Centre defense that recorded four sacks in the game. 

Austin College is on the road for its final two games beginning with a match up against Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi next Saturday. 

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

About Austin College 

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.