SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College football team couldn't get much going on offense all day against Trinity, as the 'Roos were limited to 135 yards of total offense in a 10-7 loss against Trinity University in the team's season finale. The 'Roos finish the year with an overall record of 5-5 and a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference mark of 1-2.
The Austin College defense was stout all day, and the two teams combined to punt 21 times as neither offense was able to sustain many drives. Trinity had arguably the best drive of the day on their first possession, going 76 yards in 14 plays but the Tigers were still held to a 21-yard field goal to go on top 3-0 with 8:57 left in the first quarter. That would remain the score until just before halftime, when the Tigers went 39 yards in five plays following an interception to go on top 10-0 on an Austin Grauer pass to Jeremy Simmons from eight yards out with 57 seconds left.
Penalties proved fatal to the 'Roos early in the third quarter, as a 15-yard personal foul gave Austin College a 3rd and 16 rather than 3rd and 1 on their first possession of the second half. Austin College was unable to convert, and would be forced to punt. Trinity looked poised to get on the board midway through the quarter, but a 28-yard field goal attempt by Colby Doyal was blocked by Kendall St. Romain to keep the score 10-0.
The 'Roos would finally get on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter, as Cooper Woodyard connected with Kyle Crawford for a 21 yard gain and followed that up with a 23 yard run, and two plays later, Woodyard would find Crawford in the endzone for an eight yard touchdown to make it a 10-7 game with 13:23 left in the game. The Austin College defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession for Trinity, but the 'Roo offense was unable to put any points on the board.
With 6:25 left in the game, Austin College would take over on offense with one final chance to either square things up or take the lead, but a sack on Woodyard and an incomplete pass led to another punt by Woodyard, and Trinity managed to pick up a crucial first down and ran out the clock in the game's final moments.
Austin College managed just 22 yards of total offense in the first half before coming a live a bit after halftime. Woodyard completed 12-of-27 passes for 78 yards and added 53 yards on 16 carries, and Crawford finished with seven receptions for 63 yards and a score. Brooks Ward had 14 tackles, including 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack to pace the 'Roo defense.
Simmons rushed for 109 yards on 26 carries to lead Trinity on offense, and Grauer completed 14-of-30 passes for 121 yards. Simmons also led the Tigers with five receptions in the game. Julian Tucker had nine tackles to lead Trinity on defense, as the Tigers held the ball for nearly 37 minutes on the day and gained 301 yards of total offense.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.