The Austin College football team held off Southwestern for a 20-13 victory on Saturday, giving the 'Roos their third straight win and bringing the team's record to 3-2 overall this season. The 'Roos are 3-2 for the first time since 2010.
Noah Jesko leaned heavily on his tight ends and put the 'Roos on top early with an 81 yard touchdown strike to Kyle Crawford to make it 7-0 midway through the first quarter, but Southwestern would answer just before the end of the opening frame. The 'Roos got the lead back early in the second, when Madison Ross capped off a 10 play, 78 yard drive with a five yard plunge to make it 14-7, and after a Southwestern field goal three minutes later, Austin College took a 14-10 lead into halftime.
Jesko threw for 210 yards in the first half, with 154 of those passing yards going to the tight end duo of Crawford and Travis McClinton. That pair continued to serve as Jesko's primary targets in the second half but the Pirate secondary tightened up and limited the Austin College passing attack to just 35 yards after halftime. However, Ross was able to turn in some crucial runs and Jesko made some timely throws to help set up a pair of field goals from Javi Reynoso.
Reynoso's first field goal came with 1:23 left in the third as he hit a 39 yarder, marking a new career best, and he would add another field goal with 4:43 on the clock, this time from 24 yards to make it a 20-10 game late. Southwestern would tack on a field goal with 1:36 left but Austin College recovered the onside kick attempt and was able to run out the clock.
Jesko completed 19-of-29 passes for 245 yards and Crawford hauled in seven receptions for 115 yards. McClinton set a new career high with six catches and had 69 receiving yards, and Ross finished with 22 carries for 71 yards and a score. Jantzen Foster led the Austin College defense with nine tackles.
Justin Pelt completed 14-of-23 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown and Dylan Wilburn rushed 22 times for 129 yards in the loss for the Pirates.
Austin College is off next week and will return to action at Southwest Assemblies of God on October 18.