SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team dropped its home finale on Saturday as the No. 8-ranked Hardin-Simmons Cowboys built a 35-0 halftime lead and never looked back, topping the 'Roos 56-14 at Jerry Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 1-7 overall on the year with the loss.
The Cowboys struck early with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Castaneda, making it 7-0 with 11:38 left in the opening quarter. Hardin-Simmons would add another score six minutes later, as Myles Featherston found the endzone from a yard away to cap off a seven play, 72-yard drive to make it 14-0 heading into the second period. Kolby Youngblood tacked on a short touchdown run of his own 32 seconds into the second quarter, as the Cowboys completed a 10-play, 69-yard drive to make it 21-0, and eight minutes later HSU would strike again with Cade Bell hauling in a nine-yard touchdown strike from Kyle Jones to make it 28-0.
Hardin-Simmons got one more score before halftime, as Jones connected with Jalen Crawford for a 37-yard scoring strike to make it 35-0 at the break, and in third quarter that lead would grow to 49-0 for the Cowboys. Hardin-Simmons wasted little time getting the scoring going after halftime, driving 67 yards in just four plays with Jones finding Kevi Evans for a 38-yard scoring strike with 13:56 on the clock, and just under four minutes later Gaylon Glynn hit Kai Brinkerhoff for a 47-yard touchdown pass to push the margin to 49-0 with 10:05 left in the quarter.
Austin College got on the board late in the third quarter, as the 'Roos put together their best drive of the day, marching 58 yards in 13 plays and milking 6:23 off the clock as Devon Rideaux broke multiple tackles to find paydirt from 13 yards away with 3:36 on the clock, making it a 49-7 game. The Cowboys answered back with their final touchdown of the game with just 13 seconds left in the third, as Colton Marshal scored from three yards out to cap off an eight play, 75-yard drive to make it 56-7.
The 'Roos took advantage of a special teams miscue for their second touchdown of the day, as Hardin-Simmons saw the snap on its first punt attempt sail over the head of the punter for a 31-yard loss and a turnover on downs, setting Austin College up at the 12-yard line. Three plays later, Tyler James found Kennon Magers for an eight-yard touchdown reception to make it 56-14 with 8:04 left, and that's how things would finish.
Hardin-Simmons out-gained Austin College 610-236 in the game, despite Austin College winning the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 32:34 in the game. James completed 22-of-34 passes for 147 yards with a touchdown and a pick, and Aaron Rideaux caught nine balls for 62 yards while Magers pulled in eight receptions for 37 yards with a score. Devon Rideaux finished with 69 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Jarius Williams and Grady Harper each had nine tackles for Austin College, and Max Walstad had a huge game on the defensive line with 5.5 tackles-for-loss.
Jones completed 20-of-22 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys, while Glynn was 4-of-5 for 68 yards and a score and added a team-best 66 yards on five carries. Brinkerhof made five catches for 90 yards, and Brock Bunjoch led the HSU defense with eight stops and an interception.