Madison Ross rushed for 189 yards and Bryce Murphy added 111 as the Austin College football team piled up 316 yards on the ground, and the 'Roos raced past Southwestern University 47-29 on Homecoming Saturday. The 'Roos are now 5-3 overall and 1-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the victory.
Both teams struggled to get any points on the board in the first quarter as Southwestern had its first three drives end with a missed field goal, a fumble, and an interception while Austin College gained just 34 yards on its first four drives. Austin College was able to get a 19 yard field goal from Javi Reynoso on the first possession of the game to go on top 3-0, and that would be the only scoring in the opening quarter.
Southwestern squared things up in the second quarter on a 28 yard field goal by Laith Tucker with 8:42 left before the half, but Austin College answered with a four play drive that covered 74 yards, with Noah Jesko finding Kyle Crawford for a 50 yard gain and then hitting Cooper Woodyard for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 10-3 with 7:21 left in the quarter.
Southwestern found themselves backed up to the one yard line due to a kick return miscue, but the Pirates managed to go all 99 yards in nine plays with Bryan Hicks finding Taylor Stephens for a 10 yard touchdown, and after the point after was blocked, the score was 10-9 with 3:53 left before halftime. The 'Roos struck back quickly on the next possession, with Murphy ripping off a 40 yard run to set up a 31 yard touchdown by Ross to make it 17-9, and after a fumble by Hicks gave the ball right back to Austin College, Ross scored from five yards out with 14 seconds left before the break to make it 24-9 at the half.
Austin College forced a quick three and out on the first possession of the second half for Southwestern, and the 'Roos wasted almost no time getting on the board again with Jesko finding Crawford for a 44 yard touchdown to make it 31-9 with 13:15 on the clock. Southwestern answered back with Dylan Wilburn scoring from a yard out to cap a six play, 72 yard drive to make it 31-16.
The 'Roos weren't done, however, as the ground attack of Murphy and Ross went back to work with Murphy finding pay dirt from 25 yards away, making it 37-16 after the point after was blocked. Austin College would tack on three more in the quarter on a 22 yarder from Javi Reynoso to head into the final quarter leading 40-16.
Hicks was able to find Micah Sherman in the endzone from four yards away, pulling the Pirates to 40-22 after a paid two point conversion attempt, but a 10 play, 74 yard drive for the 'Roos culminated in a two yard score for Ross, his third of the game, to make it 47-22 with 3:23 left. Southwestern would add one more score with 1:51 remaining on a one yard run from Wilburn that was set up by a 56 yard reception by Matt Gillen, but Austin College recovered the onside kick and after Nick Chrestopolous picked up a first down on three rushes the 'Roos were able to run out the clock and seal the 47-29 win.
Ross carried 23 times to earn his 189 yards and Murphy rushed 19 times for his 111 as the 'Roos averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a team. Jesko completed 9-of-21 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns against one pick, and Crawford finished with 120 yards on four catches. Scott Loy led an Austin College defense that racked up seven sacks, making 10 tackles with a sack in the win.
Hicks completed 25-of-38 passes for 334 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, Gillen finished with 11 receptions for 146 yards, and Wilburn rushed 13 times for 77 yards and two scores to lead Southwestern offensively. Taylor Fann made a team-best eight tackles for the Pirates.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.