SHERMAN, Texas - After jumping on top on the very first play of the game, the Austin College football team saw No. 23-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor scored 49 unanswered before a fourth quarter touchdown made it a 49-14 final on Saturday afternoon at Jerry E. Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 1-6 overall on the year.
The game got off to the best start possible for Austin College, as the 'Roos forced a fumble on the opening kickoff and Jeremiah Contreras scooped up the loose ball and raced 14 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 just 10 seconds into the game. The Cru answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Isaac Phe to Christopher Gacayan to even things up. That same duo would hook up again on the next possession for UMHB, this time from 10 yards out to make it 14-7, but that's where things would stand after the first 15 minutes of action.
The Cru would jump on top 21-7 early in the second quarter when Trashawn Adams picked off a Jaylon Talton pass at the 50 and returned it all the way for a score, and UMHB added another touchdown pass from Phe, this time to Ozias Wright from 29 yards out to make it 28-7 with just over six minutes remaining in the half. Phe and Gacayan would hook up for the third time in the opening half with under a minute left before the break, this time on a seven-yard connection to make it 35-7 at halftime.
After another Austin College turnover on the team's opening drive of the third quarter, UMHB struck quickly, with Kenneth Cormier carrying twice for 62 yards, including a 56-yard scamper for a touchdown to make it 42-7, and later in the third Jackson Tingler found Romello Cook for a 24-yard touchdown to make it 49-7 with 4:08 left in the period. Austin College would get on the board once more in the fourth, going 80 yards in eight plays, ending with a short touchdown run by Grayson Stacey to make it 49-14 with nine minutes left in the game, and that's how things would end.
Talton completed 8-of-17 passes for 89 yards and a pair of picks and Stacey rushed for 28 yards and a score, while Michael Cress and Colin Mushinski each caught two passes for 29 and 27 yards, respectively, to pace the 'Roos offensively. Pablo Cantu had 10 tackles and Brady Dygert added nine, while Jeremiah Contreras had eight stops and a scoop-and-score and Colton Gerken had seven tackles, including a sack.
Phe finished the game completing 20-of-25 passes for 219 yards with four touchdowns, and Cormier carried seven times for 94 yards. Cook hauled in five passes for 79 yards and Gacayan had five catches for 56 yards and three scores, while Durand Hill made nine tackles to lead the Cru.
Austin College is on the road next week, as they take on McMurry University on October 28 at 1:00 p.m.