TLU Tops 'Roo Football

SHERMAN, Texas - Texas Lutheran put up 34 first half points and Austin College was unable to mount a second half comeback, as the 'Roo football team dropped a 55-17 decision on Saturday afternoon at Jerry E. Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 1-6 overall and 1-4 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The Bulldogs scored on their opening drive to make it a 7-0 game four minutes in, with Caden Bosanko running one in from 10 yards out to cap an eight play, 69-yard drive. The 'Roos got three points back on the ensuing possession, getting a 42 yard kick return from Barrett Hudson to set them up in good field position for a drive that resulted in a 24 yard field goal by Caleb Balderas with 6:52 on the clock. It didn't take long for TLU to respond, however, as Bosanko connected with Caleb Camarillo for a 65 yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage on the next possession to make it 14-3.

The margin grew to 20-3 early in the second quarter, as Bosanko found the endzone again, this time from 22 yards out less than a minute into the period. The two-point conversion failed following the scoring run. Austin College cut the margin to 20-10 the next time they touched the ball, as Hudson raced 69 yards into the red zone and Jaylon Talton found Trey Adams on the next play. The 'Roos forced a punt on the next TLU drive, but the Bulldogs took advantage of a muffed return to get the ball back deep in 'Roo territory and scored shortly after, with Jackson Bennett finding paydirt from nine yards out to make it 27-10 with just over nine minutes remaining before the break. The Bulldogs added one more score before halftime, as Bosanko scored his third rushing touchdown of the day, this time from four yards out, to make it 34-10 at the break.

Bosanko scored one more time on the ground in the third quarter, rushing the ball in for a six yard touchdown to make it 41-10 with 12:59 on the clock after the Bulldogs got the ball deep in Austin College territory again after forcing a fumble on the opening drive of the second half for the 'Roos. Austin College cut it to a 41-17 game on a 20 yard touchdown run by Christian Johnson on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Texas Lutheran tacked on two more scores in the period, with Bosanko finding Camarillo for their second touchdown connection of the game, and Landon Gill scored on a 13 yard touchdown run to make it 55-17 with 3:30 left to play.

Hudson led the Austin College offense with 148 yards on 18 carries, adding seven receptions for 38 yards, and Zyan Stewart added 65 yards on 10 rushes. Talton went 16-of-28 for 159 yards and a touchdown, and Jacob Brewer caught four passes for 56 yards. Colton Gerken had 10 tackles to lead Austin College defensively. Bosanko carried 12 times for 137 yards and four touchdowns, and was 9-of-16 for 154 yards and two passing touchdowns.