'Roos Celebrate Homecoming with Victory

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team fell behind 7-0 early in the second quarter but scored 24 unanswered points on their way to a 31-21 victory over visiting Lyon College on Saturday, as the 'Roos celebrated both Senior Day and Homecoming Weekend at Jerry Apple Stadium. The 'Roos end the year at 2-8 overall and 2-6 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Austin College marched inside of the Lyon five-yard line in the opening quarter but were unable to capitalize, and that would wind up being the story of the first 15 minutes as neither team was able to punch one in and the team's went into the second scoreless. Lyon broke through just over three minutes into the second frame, however, with Bryton Ursey capping off a 13 play, 78 yard drive with a seven yard quarterback keeper into the endzone to make it 7-0. The 'Roos bounced back on the ensuing possession, though, going 66 yards in just six plays with Barrett Hudson finding paydirt from 17 yards out to square things up with 8:32 left in the opening half.

That remained the score heading into halftime, and Austin College took the lead for good midway through the third quarter on a seven yard touchdown connection from Jaylon Talton to Jacob Brewer, making it 14-7 with 7:32 on the clock to close out a 12 play, 87 yard drive. Austin College got three more points before the end of the quarter, with Caleb Balderas splitting the uprights from 34 yards away with three minutes left to make it 17-7 moving into the final 15 minutes of the season.

Austin College pushed the margin to 24-7 early in the fourth, as Talton found DQ Barnes for an acrobatic touchdown grab from 10 yards out, but the Scots responded with an 11 play, 75 yard drive culminating with a one yard touchdown plunge from Jaylin Babers to cut it to 24-14. After Austin College recovered the onside kick, followed by a 10 yard Lyon penalty, Hudson took the first play from scrimmage 39 yards to the house to make it a 31-14 game. The Scots added one more score with three and a half minutes remaining, but after Lyon got the ball back late, Seth Fulenchek came up with a big strip-sack deep in Scots territory and the 'Roos recovered to seal the win.

Hudson rushed 26 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns and Talton completed 9-of-21 passes for 107 yards and two scores, while Brewer had three receptiosn for 34 yards. Brady Dygert made 18 tackles, bringing his season total to 122, which is the fifth highest total in a season in SCAC history. Dygert also had a pass breakup and a forced fumble, and Pablo Cantu added 10 stops in the win. Babers paced Lyon with 146 yards on 30 carries, and Ursey completed 21-of-39 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown and a pick.