'Roo Football Drops Road Game at BSC

'Roo Football Drops Road Game at BSC

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Austin College football team went toe-to-toe with Birmingham-Southern through 57 minutes, but the Panthers scored 10 points in the final three minutes to hand the 'Roos a 52-42 loss on Saturday afternoon. The 'Roos are now 4-4 overall and 3-3 in Southern Athletic Association play.

Colt Collins threw for a career-best 349 yards en route to breaking the Austin College career record for passing yards, but the Panthers racked up 307 rushing yards and scored six of their seven touchdowns on the ground. Robert Shufford got things started for BSC with a 48-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game, but Austin College drove 64 yards in 11 plays, culminating in an 18-yard scoring strike from Collins to Hagan Vrazel at the 8:24 mark of the opening quarter. Birmingham-Southern answered with a touchdown to go back on top, but Collins found the endzone from three yards out to tie things up at 14 at the end of the first.

The Panthers went back on top early in the second but Collins connected with Aaron Rideaux for a 75-yard score to keep the game tied, and later in the quarter a nine-yard touchdown run by Trey Carr put the 'Roos ahead 28-21. However, BSC would find paydirt just before halftime to square things back up at the break. 

Birmingham-Southern scored to go back ahead midway through the third quarter but Tim Crossley scored on an eight-yard run to make it 35-35 heading into the fourth, with the Panthers getting the lead back with 13:03 left to play. The 'Roos made it a 42-42 game with 3:08 left on another touchdown run by Collins, but Birmingham-Southern used a 43-yard touchdown run by Shufford to go ahead 49-42, and a late field goal for the Panthers would seal the game.

Collins connected on 17-of-35 passes on his career day, throwing two touchdowns with a pick and adding 62 rushing yards and two scores. Maika Brinkerhoff caught six passes for 138 yards and Rideaux finished with three receptions for 115 yards. Evan Powell rushed 10 times for 55 yards, and Keegan Nichols led the defense with 10 stops. Shufford, the SAA's leading rusher, carried 31 times for 250 yards and three scores to lead the Panthers.