Big Second Half Propels 'Roos Past Bacone

Big Second Half Propels 'Roos Past Bacone

MUSKOGEE, Okla. - The Austin College football team never trailed, leading 7-0 at halftime before pouring on 24 points after the break to pull away from Bacone College in a 31-18 victory on Saturday. The 'Roos are now 1-0 to open the season.

Colt Collins got the 'Roos on the board just over midway through the opening quarter, taking a quarterback keeper seven yards into the endzone to make it 7-0 with 6:33 on the clock. That would be the lone scoring play of the opening half, and it was Bacone who struck first after the break. Bacone would get a 29 yard passing score from Samuel Sewards to Antonio Wilson, but the point after attempt was no good and the 'Roos maintained a 7-6 lead.

Austin College extended the lead to 10-6 on a 46-yard field goal by Cesar Ruiz, and the margin grew to 17-6 on a three yard touchdown run by Brandon Evans. Bacone answered back to cut it to a 17-12 margin on a 12-yard touchdown pass by Sewards late in the third quarter, but once again the point after attempt failed to keep it a five point game. In the fourth quarter, Collins found Kyle Mucerino for a 49-yard scoring strike to push it to a 24-12 lead, and Evans scored again, this time from 11 yards out, to make it 31-12. Bacone would return a fumble for a touchdown late in the fourth but that's as close as things would get.

Collins completed 4-of-12 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and rushed 10 times for 50 yards and another score, and Morris Shell made 10 stops to lead the Austin College defense. Mason Binder, Jackson Townsend, and Jerry Johnson each intercepted a pass, and Binder and Darlon Chandler both came away with a sack.

Austin College returns to Sherman next week for the team's home opener against Wayland Baptist on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Apple Stadium.