Austin College Falls in Season Finale Heartbreaker

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team jumped out to an early lead and maintained that lead through most of their game against Howard Payne on Saturday, but the Yellow Jackets scored with 37 seconds left to hand the 'Roos a 23-20 defeat in the final game of the 2022 campaign. The 'Roos finish the year with a record of 1-9 overall.

Jeremiah Contreras came away with an interception on the second play from scrimmage and the 'Roos would convert that turnover into a 48-yard field goal by John Aldridge with 13:14 left in the opening quarter, and Austin College would extend the lead to 10-0 on its next possession when Ben Meraz scored from five yards out with 6:13 left in the quarter. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 12 yard run from Meraz and a 10-yarder from Kennon Magers, as Austin College took advantage of good field position to go 51 yards in 10 plays.

Austin College pushed the margin to 17-0 in the second quarter, as the 'Roos forced a turnover on downs late in the opening quarter and put together a 10 play, 58 yard drive culminating in a four yard scoring run by Magers with 12:29 left before halftime. The Jackets got on the board for the first time on the ensuing possession, as Javian Myles fumbled at the three yard line but HPU receiver Deon Collins pounced on the loose ball in the endzone to make it a 17-7 game with 10:16 on the clock.

That's where things would stand heading into the third quarter, where the 'Roos fumbled on the opening possession of the second half to give Howard Payne the ball at their own 21-yard line. However, the Austin College defense limited the Jackets to eight yards on the possession, forcing a 30-yard field goal by Harrison Pustil to make it 17-10 with 11:47 on the clock. That would remain the score going into the fourth quarter, when the Jackets would square things up with 10:57 left to play on a touchdown pass from Landon McKinney to Jordan Carroll from four yards out.

Austin College regained the lead on a 45-yard field goal by Aldridge with just under three minutes left to play, but Howard Payne went 85 yards on 11 plays in just under two and a half minutes to take the lead on a 12-yard touchdown pass from McKinney to Otis Lanier with 37 seconds left. Colton Gerken blocked the point after attempt to keep it a 23-20 game, but a last second Hail Mary attempt by Tyler James was picked off at the three yard line to end the game.

Meraz rushed 22 times for 62 yards and Magers added 51 yards on 13 rushes, while Tiger Dietz rushed four times for 48 yards with a long run of 51. Meraz also completed his only pass attempt for 21 yards to Grant Yudizky. Brady Dygert had 13 tackles and a forced fumble, while Gerken and Marques Williams each had 10 stops to pace the Austin College defense. McKinney completed 27-of-36 passes for 240 yards and Kyle Bell made 11 tackles for Howard Payne.