'Roo Football Holds off SAGU to Improve to 4-2

The Austin College football team came up with some crucial second half plays to top Southwestern Assemblies of God 27-20, bringing the team's record to 4-2 overall on the season. This marks the first time the 'Roos have been 4-2 since the 2002 campaign.

After a scoreless first quarter, Austin College got on the board early in the second when Devin Smith broke through the line and raced 50 yards for a touchdown, and after a failed conversion attempt the 'Roos took a 6-0 lead. On the next Austin College possession the 'Roos were forced to punt, but Cooper Woodyard's kick touched a Lions player and Ben Bouchez pounced on the loose ball at the SAGU 10 yard line. The very next play, Bryce Murphy scampered in from 10 yards out to make it a 13-0 game with 5:34 left in the half.

SAGU would get on the board just before halftime with a 32 yard field goal to make it 13-3, and in the third quarter momentum seemed to be shifting to the Lions when they scored on an 87 yard touchdown pass, and Chadd Dearen's 34 yard field goal with one second left in the third squared things up.

However, Austin College grabbed the momentum right back when Jantzen Foster made a diving interception and on the first play of the ensuing 'Roo possession, Noah Jesko found Woodyard for a 57 yard touchdown, and then on the very first play of the next SAGU possession, Kendall St. Romain picked off another pass to give the ball back to the 'Roos deep in Lions territory.

Four plays later, Murphy found the endzone from four yards out to make it 27-13. SAGU would add one more score with 6:47 left when CJ Collins found Jeremy McDonald for a 66 yard touchdown strike but the 'Roos were able to hold on for the 27-20 victory.

Austin College piled up 256 rushing yards, with Madison Ross carrying 15 times for 124 yards and Murphy finished with 81 yards on 20 attempts. Smith added 61 yards on five carries, while Jesko finished the game completing 6-of-13 passes for 93 yards. Brooks Ward led the defensive effort with 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops and half a tackle for loss.

Austin College will be looking to make it five in a row when they head to Conway, Arkansas next Saturday to take on Hendrix College.