SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College football team turned the ball over seven times, resulting in 31 points for visiting Berry College in a 44-10 loss to the Vikings on Saturday at Jerry Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 2-3 overall and 0-3 in Southern Athletic Association play.
Austin College opened the game with an interception on the first pass of the game by Colt Collins, but the sophomore quarterback bounced back on the next possession after the defense forced a three-and-out for the Vikings. After Berry had pinned the 'Roos on the 1-yard line, Collins directed a 15 play, 99 yard drive that consumed more than seven and a half minutes and culminated in a 30-yard touchdown toss to Kevin Ray to make it 7-0 with four minutes left in the opening frame.
On the next possession for Berry, the 'Roos forced another punt and got the block, gaining possession inside the Berry 20-yard line. The 'Roos wound up capitalizing with a 34-yard field goal by Cesar Ruiz to make it 10-0 with 14:17 left in the second quarter.
However, those would be the last points Austin College would put on the board as Berry scored 44 unanswered. Berry scored on its next possession with Austin Lowe breaking free for a 20-yard touchdown run to make it 10-6 after a missed extra point with 10:51 left, and the Vikings picked off their second pass of the day on the ensuing drive for Austin College. Lowe raced 35 yards and then Tate Adcock threw a four yard touchdown pass to Trey Ciresi to put the Vikings ahead 13-10 with 6:23 on the clock.
The Vikings would score once more, as Austin College was forced to punt on its next possession and Berry finished the half with a 13-play, 71 yard drive capped by another touchdown connection from Adcock to Ciresi with 10 seconds left before halftime, making it 20-10 at the break.
After punts by both teams to open the second half, a bad exchange led to another turnover for Austin College and Berry added a 19-yard field goal by Trey Gregory to make it 23-10 with 8:28 showing on the clock. Austin College had another pass picked off on their next drive, which turned into a touchdown run for CJ Stone to make it 30-10 with four minutes to go in the third.
Another Austin College interception in the fourth quarter gave the ball back to Berry, and the Vikings went 52 yards in eight plays with Adcock finding Tristen Cline for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 37-10, and the Vikings would pick off another pass on the next drive and turned it into seven more points on a short touchdown run by Heath Burchfield with 9:16 left in the game, and that would be the final scoring play of the game.
Collins finished the game completing 15-of-31 passes for 184 yards with a touchdown and five picks, and Trey Carr was 1-for-5 for 21 yards with an interception while adding a team-best 43 rushing yards. Tom Clancy caught four passes for 77 yards, and Jackson Townsend made 13 tackles to pace the Austin College defense.
Lowe rushed 13 times for 102 yards and a touchdown to lead the Berry offense, while Adcock completed 7-of-10 passes for 79 yards and three touchdowns. Ciresi caught five passes for 43 yards and a pair of scores, and Tyler Bertolini led a balanced defensive effort with five tackles. Antonio White added three tackles and two interceptions.