SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team fell behind by a touchdown less than a minute in and No. 20-ranked Hardin-Simmons would open the second half with both a kick return for a touchdown and then a punt return for a touchdown, and the 'Roos were unable to keep pace in a 59-19 defeat on Homecoming Weekend. The 'Roos are now 1-8 overall on the year.
Austin College received the opening kickoff, but on their first drive Jaylon Talton's first pass attempt was tipped up into the air and intercepted by Cason Hanna, who returned it 24 yards for the score to make it 7-0 just 57 seconds into the game. The 'Roos responded with a 14-play, 69-yard drive culminating in a 23-yard field goal by John Aldridge to make it 7-3. However, the Cowboys answered with their second score of the game on the ensuing possession as Noah Garcia got into the endzone from two yards out to make it 14-3, and that's how things would stand after the opening frame.
Colton Marshall scored from 13 yards out early in the second to give HSU a 21-3 lead, but Austin College bounced back with their first touchdown of the game when Talton found Colin Mushinski for an 18-yard strike to make it 21-10 four minutes into the period. Hardin-Simmons went 88 yards on just seven plays on the next drive, however, with Marshall racing 50 yards to set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Gaylon Glynn to Tailon Garrett to make it 28-10. HSU would add one more touchdown, this time on an AJ Hawkins plunge from a yard out, and a 28-yard field goal by Andy Prazak to make it 38-10 heading into halftime.
KJ Peoples returned the opening kick of the second half 97 yards for a touchdown to make it 45-10, and Dameon Gomes had an 80-yard punt return for a score after a 3-and-out for Austin College to make it 52-10 with 12:21 left in the frame. Aldridge connected on a 43-yard field goal on Austin College's next possession to make it 52-13, and the 'Roos would put together a 14-play, 68-yard drive later in the quarter that ended with a one yard touchdown run by Ben Meraz to make it 52-19 after a missed point after attempt. A fourth quarter fumble by the 'Roos gave the Cowboys good starting field possession and HSU took advantage, going 53 yards on just four plays with Myles Featherston scoring from 12 yards out to make it 59-19 with just over 11 minutes left and that's how thing would end.
Hardin-Simmons out-gained the 'Roos 483-to-324, though Austin College held possession for more than 36 minutes and had 27 first downs compared to 25 for Hardin-Simmons. Talton completed 19-of-37 passes for a career-best 239 yards, and Grant Yudizky had eight receptiosn for 103 yards. Mushinski brought in five passes for 64 yards, while Meraz paced the 'Roos on the ground with 51 yards and a score on nine carries. Pablo Cantu had 10 tackles and Josh Vreeland had six for Austin College. Glynn connected on 17-of-25 passes for 234 yards, Marshall carried seven times for 79 yards, and Garrett and Peoples had 115 and 105 receiving yards, respectively, for Hardin-Simmons.