Comeback Bid Falls Short for 'Roo Football

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team outscored visiting Southwestern 22-7 in the last 16 minutes of action, but the comeback bid came up short for the 'Roos in a 40-29 defeat at Jerry Apple Stadium on Homecoming Weekend. The 'Roos are now 1-7 overall and 1-5 in American Southwest Conference play.

Austin College got off to a fast start, as Tiger Dietz took the second play from scrimmage 73 yards to the house to put the 'Roos ahead 7-0 just 41 seconds into the game. However, Southwestern answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Damian Gomez touchdown run from eight yards out to make it 7-6 after a fumble on the point after attempt. The score remained 7-6 until midway through the second quarter, when the Pirates got a 15-yard touchdown throw from Gomez to Ethan Powell to make it 13-7, and Gomez would add another touchdown run, this time from 12 yards out, to make it 20-7 with just 21 seconds left before halftime.

The Pirates took the opening possessio of the second half 75 yards on seven plays to go on top 27-7, this time with Christian Reeves coming out of the backfield to catch a 25-yard pass from Gomez with 11:25 left to play in the third. Reeves would add a 1-yard touchdown run six minutes later, making the score 33-7 after the extra point effort was blocked by Austin College.

The 'Roos started to rally late in the third, recovering a fumble by the Pirates to set them up with good field position just 23 yards away from the endzone, and Austin College would capitalize as Peyton Keily found Traelyn Marsh for a 6-yard score to make it 33-14. Southwestern answered with another 12-yard touchdown run from Gomez early in the fourth to make it 40-14, but Keily connected with Grant Yudizky for a 64-yard touchdown strike to cut it to a 40-21 game with just over 10 minutes left to play. Austin College got on the board a little over eight minutes later when Ben Meraz scored from a yard out, and the 2-point conversion from Dietz made it 40-29 with 2:46 on the clock.

Austin College would get one more opportunity with the ball, but were unable to find the endzone again before the final horn. Dietz rushed six times for 91 yards, while Keily completed 3-of-10 passes for 83 yards and two scores. Meraz hit on 4-of-6 attempts for 52 yards, adding 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Yudizky had a career-day with five catches for 116 yards. Brady Dygert led Austin College defensively with 14 tackles, and Texas Gordon had 12 stops. Gomez led Southwestern offensively, connecting on 18-of-26 passes for 270 yards and two scores while rushing for 76 yards and three touchdowns, while Jaquon Martin carried 23 times for 147 yards and Powell caught eight passes for 156 yards.