LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Austin College picked up their first conference win as they knocked off Southwestern 25-6. Texas Lutheran continues to impress by improving to 7-0 overall record with a 37-27 win over a stiff Louisiana College opponent. The Bulldogs move up two spots in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll to No. 23 in the nation.
AROUND THE SCAC
Bryce Murphy rushed for 145 yards
and two touchdowns to lead Austin College to a
25-6 victory over Southwestern on Saturday afternoon, giving the
‘Roos their third straight win. The ‘Roos are now 4-5
overall this season as they head into a bye week next weekend.
Austin College built a big lead early on, starting with a 58 yard
touchdown run from Murphy less than five minutes in. The
‘Roos got a 10 yard touchdown from James Nwankpah with 6:54
left in the first, and Murphy scored again with a 27 yard run with
just over three minutes to play in the first. Southwestern got a
field goal to make it 20-3 after one quarter of action. The
‘Roos got a safety for the only score of the second quarter
to go into halftime leading 22-3, and Andrew Klink drilled a 29
yard field goal early in the third quarter to make it 25-3. The
Pirates would add a field goal to make it 25-6 at the end of the
third, and that’s how it would stay. Murphy rushed 20 times
to get his 145 yards and Nwankpah added 71 yards on 23 carries.
Noah Jesko completed 13-of-22 passes for 116 yards and Travis
McClinton led the offense with three catches for 25 yards. Nathan
Packard had 10 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, and Jantzen Foster
had eight tackles with 2.0 sacks to lead the defensive effort.
A tale of two halves proved to be the difference Saturday as
Southwestern football team fell to Austin College
on Homecoming, 25-6 at Birkelbach Field. The Pirates (0-8, 0-2)
matched the ‘Roos (4-5, 1-1) in the second half as the teams
traded field goals in the SCAC contest; however it was a 20-point
first quarter that propelled the visitors to the victory and kept
Southwestern winless on the season. After holding the ‘Roos
to a punt on their first possession, Southwestern looked as if they
were going to take early control of the game. Using a variety of
offensive weapons the Pirates changed the pace before a fumble deep
in Austin territory gave the ‘Roos the ball at their own
42-yard line and saw Austin score on the ensuing possession.
Southwestern found offensive rhythm with Brian Hicks finishing the
day 23-of-39 for 216 yards as his top target Matt Gillen caught 10
passes for 145 yards. The Pirates picked up two scores from Laith
Tucker connecting on a pair of field goals at the end of the first
half and a second in the third quarter.
Texas Lutheran continued their march to a potential NCAA
playoff berth with a key home victory Saturday over Louisiana
College, a 2012 NCAA DIII playoff participant. The Bulldogs won
37-27 despite playing a good portion of the game without starting
QB Brent Peavy, who left Saturday’s game with an injury in
the middle of the second quarter. Back-up QB Trenton White came off
the bench to engineer five scoring drives (three FGs, two TDs). The
Bulldogs also received a big lift from senior Dominique Hardaway,
who rushed for 108 yards yards on 16 carries, averaging 6.8 per
carry. Hardaway had been limited by injuries, but he came through
in the big game when TLU needed him most. Hardaway gave fellow
running back A.J. Saucedo a complimentary back in the absence of
Marquis Barrolle, who is out with an injury.
Trinity was idle this past weekend. The Tigers will
return home next weekend as they welcome in the Southwestern
Pirates for their second SCAC game of the year. Kickoff is set for
1 p.m.
To view the entire SCAC Gridiron
Daily for week nine, click here.
