SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Austin College football team struck first and led late in the third, but 21 unanswered points for Trinity pushed the Tigers past the 'Roos 35-24 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.

Tyler James threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in his first career start at quarterback, but the 'Roos were unable to get anything going with their ground game against the Tigers, with -3 yards on the ground as a team in the loss. Trinity, meanwhile racked up 137 rushing yards and 482 yards of total offense while holding the ball for nearly 36 minutes.

Austin College got on the scoreboard first with a 19-yard touchdown pass from James to Aaron Rideaux, the first of two times the pair would connect for a score on the day. Trinity tied things up in the second quarter, and the score would remain 7-7 heading into the locker room at halftime. Austin College recovered an onside kick to open up the second half of action, and John Aldridge drilled a 38-yard field goal to put Austin College ahead 10-7 early in the third. Trinity would answer with a 14-play, 82-yard drive culminating in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Messex to Caleb Crawford to put the Tigers on top 14-10 midway through the quarter.

The 'Roos took the lead back with just under a minute left in the third when James found Broderick Hampton for a 26-yard score to make it 17-14, but Trinity would score 21 straight in the fourth quarter to go on top 35-17 before James tossed his third touchdown of the game, this time finding Rideaux from 17 yards out with 26 seconds left to play to make it a 35-24 final.

James completed 17-of-35 passes on the day, with Rideaux catching six passes for 94 yards and Hampton hauling in five passes for 71 yards. Jarrett Pleasant led the 'Roos defensively, coming up with 13 stops in his first collegiate game. Regan Wilkins, Dawson Cunneen, and Keegan Nichols each made eight tackles, with Nichols adding a sack, a pass breakup, and six quarterback hurries.

Messex led Trinity offensively, completing 22-of-34 passes for 249 yards and three scores, and Austin Bertness caught nine balls for 124 yards with three touchdowns for the Tigers. James Ogunrin led the Trinity defense with 10 tackles.