SHERMAN, Texas – For the second week in a row, the Austin College football team had to hold off a comeback bid but Cooper Woodyard had 326 yards of total offense to lead the 'Roos to a 30-17 win over Whittier College. The 'Roos are now 2-1 overall on the year.
Austin College marched down the field on their opening drive, going 55 yards in nine plays before settling for a 37-yard field goal from Cesar Ruiz. The 'Roos got back to work on their next possession, putting together another nine play drive, this time covering 81 yards and culminating in an 18-yard touchdown strike from Woodyard to Kyle Mucerino. That touchdown made it 10-0 with 5:28 left in the opening quarter, and that's how things would stand heading into the second.
It didn't take the 'Roos long to find pay dirt in the second quarter, though, as a seven play, 54-yard drive that began late in the first was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Woodyard to Adonis Martin just five seconds into the frame. Whittier got on the board just under six minutes later, when Eric Voss drilled a 34-yard field goal to make it a 17-3 game with 9:01 on the clock.
The Poets would use a strong defensive effort in the second quarter to shift the momentum, and a few costly Austin College penalties aided Whittier in going 90 yards in only five plays. Matthew Valencia closed the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Steven Short to cut it to a 17-10 game with 3:25 left in the second, and that's how things would stand heading into the break.
An interception by Garrett Marcantel on the opening drive of the second half gave Austin College the ball deep in Whittier territory, but the 'Roos would be forced to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Ruiz to make it a 20-10 game with 10:43 left in the third. Whittier would finish the third with another strong drive, covering 86 yards in only six plays and finishing with a four yard touchdown pass from Valencia to Joey Willm to make it 20-17 with 1:29 left in the quarter.
That's as close as things would get, however, as the 'Roos clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter and would score the game's final 10 points. Ruiz hit his third field goal of the game with 9:22 remaining to make it a 23-10 game, and Woodyard iced things with a 21-yard touchdown run to make it 30-17 with 1:46 left to play.
Woodyard completed 20-of-27 passes for 209 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and added 117 rushing yards on 16 carries. Kane Norman added 55 rushing yards on 15 carries, while Mucerino led the 'Roos with 96 receiving yards on six catches. Charles Eneh led a balanced defensive effot with six tackles, and Ben Bouchez added five stops in the win.
Valencia completed 16-of-26 passes for 251 yards with two touchdowns and a pick, and Bryson Sanders had five catches for 73 yards and Short finished with 81 yards on four catches. Austin Brasher had 10 tackles, including a sack and 3.0 tackles-for-loss to lead the Poets.
Austin College heads out on the road next week as they travel to Waxahachie to take on Southwest Assemblies of God University.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.