SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team put 20 fourth quarter points on the board, but came up short in a comeback attempt against East Texas Baptist in a 37-30 loss on Saturday afternoon at Jerry Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 1-5 overall on the year.
After a slow start for both teams, East Texas Baptist picked things up offensively midway through the first quarter with a seven play, 51 yard drive culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Josh Lister to make it a 7-0 game. That would remain the score into the second quarter, when the 'Roos put some points on the board with a 30-yard field goal by John Aldridge with 8:41 left before halftime to make it 7-3.
The Tigers would build on their lead four minutes later, as they managed to put together a 10 play, 81 yard drive that was capped with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Troy Yowman to Tariq Gray to make it 14-3, and that's how things would stand heading into halftime. The lead grew to 20-3 midway through the third, as Yowman once again hooked up with Gray, this time for a 52-yard scoring strike with 8:11 left in the quarter. Austin College cut into the deficit five minutes later, as Devon Rideaux found paydirt from six yards out to make it 20-10, though ETBU would get those points back quickly after a 74-yard touchdown bomb from Yowman to Roma Jefferson to make it 27-10 heading into the fourth.
Yowman added another touchdown pass early in the fourth, finding Qua Heath for a 44-yard strike to make it 34-10, but Kaden Bess would take the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the house to get Austin College back on the board. The 2-point conversion failed, keeping the score 34-16. East Texas Baptist tacked on three more points on a 30-yard field goal by Alberto Garcia with 5:27 left, but Austin College wasn't done yet, as Tyler James found Aaron Rideaux for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 37-23 with 3:31 left.
The Tigers faced fourth down with four yards to go late and decided to go for it to ice the game, but Austin College forced a fumble and managed to return it into ETBU territory, with James rushing four a touchdown with 1:04 on the clock to cut it to a 37-30 game. However, the onside kick attempt failed and East Texas Baptist was able to run out the clock in the final minute.
James completed 16-of-28 passes for 199 yards with a touchdown and a pick, and also led the 'Roos with 75 rushing yards on 20 carries. Aaron Rideaux caught six passes for 154 yards, with all of those numbers coming in the second half. Rylan Ritch paced Austin College defensively, making seven stops with a sack and a fumble recovery.
Yowman was 15-of-30 for 333 yards with four touchdowns and an interception, and Gray caught five passes for 150 yards and two scores. Joey Johnson made 15 tackles for the Tigers.