The Austin College football team led a defensive battle 7-0 at halftime, but East Texas Baptist scored 17 points in a span of 10:28 between the third and fourth quarters on their way to handing the 'Roos a 17-7 loss on Saturday afternoon at Jerry Apple Stadium. The 'Roos are now 0-2 overall this year.
Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the first half, with the Tigers throwing two first half interceptions with a long drive of 50 yards while the 'Roos had a long drive of 40 yards, but it was Austin College that managed to get on the scoreboard first when Austin Rainer, making his first collegiate start at quarterback, found Madison Ross for an 18 yard touchdown strike on with 1:16 left in the first half. It was the first career reception for Ross, putting the 'Roos up a touchdown heading into halftime.
The defensive struggle continued coming out of halftime, as ETBU saw its first two second half drives end in a punt and a turnover on downs, respectively, while the 'Roos punted on four straight possessions before fumbling once and throwing a pair of picks in their seven second half possessions.
It was not until the Tigers got their third possession of the second half that they were able to muster any real offense, going 62 yards in 10 plays culminating in a five yard touchdown pass from Seth Hubbard to Kwame' Spikes to square things at 7-7 with 3:28 left in the third quarter.
East Texas Baptist struck again early in the fourth quarter as Toi Glover broke off a 27 yard run into the endzone to cap off an eight play, 71 yard drive that gave the Tigers their first lead of the day at 14-7 with 14:12 left on the clock. The Tigers would tack on a 23 yard field goal on their next possession to extend their lead to 17-7 with eight minutes to play.
Austin College threatened on the ensuing possession when Rainer went deep to PJ Fuller for a 55 yard completion, and after Sean Sweeney had carried the ball down to the seven the ball popped loose and ETBU pounced on it with 6:46 left to play, virtually ending any comeback bid for the 'Roos.
Rainer completed 4-of-18 passes for 88 yards with a touchdown and two picks and Sweeney gained 84 yards on 19 carries to lead the 'Roos offensively. Nathan Packard made 12 stops to lead the 'Roos on defense, while Tre Stewart had nine tackles including 2.0 for loss and De'Andre Holmes made eight tackles with 2.0 for loss. Scott Loy and Colter Headrick each picked off a pass.
Hubbard finished the game completing 23-of-31 passes for 268 yards and Glover finished the day with 97 yards on 20 carries, while Spikes hauled in 10 passes for 113 yards to lead the Tigers on offense. Jordan Hayes made 11 tackles and Collin Bieschke added nine stops and picked off a pass to lead ETBU on defense.
Austin College heads out on the road next week when they travel to Waxahachie to take on Southwestern Assemblies of God University with kickoff time set for 7:00 p.m.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.