'Roo Football Falls to Rhodes in Home Opener

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team found itself trailing 35-0 at halftime and was unable to mount a second half comeback, falling 49-13 to visiting Rhodes College in the team's home opener on Saturday evening at Jerry Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 0-2 on the year.

After starting the game by picking up an early first down, Austin College saw its opening drive end with an interception, but the 'Roos quickly regained possession when Jeremiah Contreras picked off a pass on the ensuing possession. However, the drive for the 'Roos stalled out, and Rhodes was able to get on the board with a 58-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Haas to John Hampton to make it 7-0 with 7:38 left in the opening frame. The margin grew to 14-0 late in the first quarter, as a 33-yard field goal attempt by Caleb Balderas was blocked, and Nick Floyd scooped up the loose ball and raced 75 yards for the special teams touchdown with just over a minute left in the opening frame.

Rhodes grew its lead to 21-0 four minutes into the second quarter, as Lynx quarterback Evan Reeder took a bootleg around right edge and went eight yards untouched into the endzone. A 62-yard pass from Reeder to Hampton set the Lynx up for their next score a few minutes later, with Jelani Lovett scored from seven yards out to make it 28-0 midway through the second period. Rhodes got on the board one more time before the half, putting together a 15-play, 80-yard drive culminating in a one-yard plunge from Robert Daniel with four seconds left in the quarter.

The 'Roos forced a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half, but after getting pinned on the one-yard line by a Lynx punt, Rhodes found itself deep in Austin College territory following a 31-yard punt return by Cooper Pennington down to the 16-yard line. Lovett scored from a yard out two plays later to make it a 42-0 game. Austin College went to its ground game on their next possession, marching 74 yards in 16 plays, with 63 of those yards coming from the rushing attack. Jaylon Talton finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Michael Cress, but Rhodes got its second blocked kick of the game, this time on the point after to keep it 42-6 with 3:14 remaining in the third.

Austin College got on the board one more time early in the fourth, once again relying on a strong running game with Barrett Hudson scampering 24 yards followed shortly after by a 30-yard touchdown burst by Zyan Stewart to make it 42-13 with 7:39 left to play. That's as close as the 'Roos would get down the stretch, though, with Rhodes tacking on one more touchdown, this time with Tanner Nau completing a 31-yard scoring strike to Jacob Kastl with 3:47 left to play, making it a 49-13 final.

Rhodes finished the game with 425 yards of total offense compared to 267 for the 'Roos, with 248 of those yards for Austin College coming on the ground. Stewart finished with 22 carries for 117 yards and Hudson added 13 carries for 83 yards. Garrison Hefner led the Austin College defense with seven tackles and Colton Gerken added six, while Contreras made five stops to go with his interception. Reeder finished the game 13-of-19 for 173 yards and Hampton caught six passes for 149 yards to pace the Lynx, and Max Sale had eight tackles and a sack to lead Rhodes defensively.

Austin College is home again next Saturday night, hosting Centenary College at Apple Stadium with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m.