SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team took an early lead on visiting Texas Lutheran, but two fumbles and a costly penalty opened the door to 17 points to give the Bulldogs a 23-7 halftime lead and the 'Roos were unable to recover, falling 37-15 on Saturday at Jerry Apple Stadium.
The 'Roos used a six play, 86-yard drive capped off by a 25-yard touchdown run from Ben Meraz to get on the board with 37 seconds left in the opening quarter and make it a 7-0 game. Texas Lutheran responded with an eight play, 75 yard drive with Seth Cosme tossing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Sotelo, but Hunter Fulton blocked the point after attempt to keep it a 7-6 lead for the 'Roos with 12:08 left before the break.
However, Austin College woudl fumble the ensuing kickoff, setting up the Bulldogs with a short field, and TLU would take advantage and get a one-yard touchdown plunge by Jacob Forton after going 21 yards in three plays to make it 13-7. Austin College looked poised to hold Texas Lutheran to a field goal attempt late in the quarter, but an offsides penalty gave TLU new life and the Bulldogs took advantage as Forton scored from nine yards out on the next play to make it 20-7. Austin College moved the ball past midfield on their next drive, but a fumble gave the ball back to Texas Lutheran and the Bulldogs managed to knock home a 17-yard field goal to make the score 23-7 at the half.
Meraz connected with Traelyn Marsh for a 59-yard pass on Austin College's second possession of the third quarter, and Meraz would score from two yards out on the next play with Seth Kerstetter converting the 2-point attempt to make it 23-15 with 10:10 left in the period. Texas Lutheran got a big kick return out to the 46 on the ensuing kickof, and the Bulldogs would drive the rest of the field and score to make it 30-15 on a five-yard DaKory Willis touchdown run with 5:39 left to play in the third. Forton would score for the third time midway through the fourth to make it a 37-15 game, and that's how things would end.
Texas Lutheran finished with 444 yards of total offense, while the 'Roos had 262, including 203 on the ground. Meraz carried 17 times for 125 yards and two scores, and also completed 1-of-5 passes for 59 yards in his first career start under center. Colton Gerken led the defense with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and Brady Dygert added 10 stops. Cosme went 23-for-39 for 232 yards and a score, and Forton carried 21 times for 89 yards and three touchdowns. David Augustin had eight tackles to lead TLU defensively.