'Roos Drop Shootout at Birmingham Southern

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Austin College football team fell 47-35 on the road at Birmingham Southern College on Saturday, despite 381 yards of total offense from Colt Collins. The 'Roos are now 2-6 overall and 2-4 in Southern Athletic Association play.

The 'Roos struck first in the game, as Sharun Jones returned a punt 55 yards to the house to put Austin College ahead 7-0 just over three minutes into the game. Birmingham Southern answered with 14 straight, but Collins found the endzone from nine yards out to square things up heading into the second quarter. A touchdown and a field goal put the Panthers ahead 24-14, but Collins found Hagan Vrazel for a 67-yard touchdown with 1:07 left before halftime. However, the Panthers would get on the board one more time, getting a field goal as time expired to make it 27-21 at the break.

Birmingham Southern would out-score the 'Roos 14-0 in the third to push it to a 41-21 game, but a four yard touchdown reception for Evan Powell and a 21-yard touchdown run by Collins brought Austin College to within a score at 41-35 with five minutes to play. Birmingham Southern would ice the game late, however, getting a touchdown with just 1:36 left to make it a 47-35 final.

Collins completed 20-of-52 passes for 329 yards with two touchdowns and a pick, adding 52 rushing yards and two more scores. Adonis Martin caught six passes for 127 yards to lead the 'Roos in both categories. Jackson Townsend paced the defense, making 12 tackles including a tackle for loss, and Nathan McLane had 10 stops.

The 'Roos are off next Saturday before returning to Sherman for their final two games of the season against Trinity on November 3 and Rhodes on November 10.