LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - To celebrate 55 years of College Athletic Conference/Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference football, the league office is releasing the top moments and/or players for each current conference member, culminating with the release of the all-time CAC/SCAC football team.
This week, the SCAC office looks back on the top players and top moments from Austin College.
Austin College, which joined the SCAC prior to the 2006 season, has produced 35 First Team All-SCAC selections.
AUSTIN COLLEGE - TOP PLAYERS (in alphabetical order)
Evan Coachman, receiver/defensive back (2007-10) - Coachman started his career as a receiver, catching 41 balls for 514 yards his first two seasons and earning Second Team All-SCAC honors in 2008. He moved to defensive back as a junior where he earned First Team All-SCAC honors in 2009. He had five career interceptions, seven pass breakups and 126 tackles from his free safety position.
Thomas Derricks, defensive tackle (2006) - Derricks played just one year in the SCAC but he earned First Team all-conference honors that season with 89 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Greg Harrell - receiver/tight end (2009-10) - As a senior, Harrell earned First-Team All-SCAC honors when he finished second in the SCAC in receiving yards (794) and third in receptions (53).
Ross Hasten, running back (2006-09) - Hasten is the 'Roos all-time leading rusher in the SCAC era, gaining 2,679 yards - the 15th-highest career total in CAC/SCAC history. Hasten earned All-SCAC honors twice in his career (first team in 2008; second team in 2009).
Noah Jesko, quarterback (2011-14) - Jesko was a four-year starter for the 'Roos at quarterback and finished his career with 5,666 yards passing and 36 touchdowns. His 5,666 passing yards currently rank as the 14th-most in CAC/SCAC history.
Austin Light, offensive lineman (2007-10) - Light was a two-time All-SCAC First Team offensive lineman (2009 and 2010) as the 'Roos led the SCAC in rushing in three of his four years in Sherman.
Scooter Means, linebacker (2006-08) - Means earned Second Team All-SCAC honors as a sophomore and as a senior and posted 265 total tackles with 17.5 tackles for loss and five interceptions in his three years in the SCAC. Means was also an All-SCAC baseball player and a member of the 'Roos 2007 SCAC tournament championship squad.
Nathan Packard, linebacker (2010-13) - Packard earned First Team All-SCAC honors as a junior and a senior and posted 155 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss, in his four years in Sherman.
Madison Ross, running back (2012-15) - Ross finished his career with 2,338 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns. He led the league in rushing as a senior with 1,014 yards to become the first Austin College player to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a season since 2000. Ross was named the SCAC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and went on to become a two-time First Team All-SCAC selection at running back in 2014 and 2015.
Brooks Ward, linebacker (2012-15) - Ward was a three-time All-SCAC First Team linebacker who finished his career with 329 tackles (21st in CAC/SCAC history), 7.0 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss.
AUSTIN COLLEGE – TOP MOMENTS (in chronological order)
October 21, 2006 – Austin College picks up it's first-ever SCAC win with a 44-20 victory at Sewanee. The 'Roos rushed for 324 yards on the afternoon, led by freshman Ross Hasten who had 109 yards on just eight carries.
November 16, 2013 - Austin College caps off the 2013 season with a dominant 35-7 win over SCAC rival Trinity University, marking the first time the 'Roos had knocked off the Tigers since 1993.
September 6, 2014 - Senior defensive lineman Tre Stewart earned a spot on the first weekend's D3football.com Team of the Week after posting nine tackles, including 3.0 for a loss of 18 yards and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 16 yards, in the 'Roos' season-opening 34-13 loss to Rhodes College.
September 13, 2014 - Austin College senior tight end Kyle Crawford was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week after catching six balls for 153 yards (25.5 yards per catch), including a 58-yard touchdown in Saturday's 43-27 loss to East Texas Baptist University.
September 19, 2015 – Junior linebacker Ben Bouchez led an Austin College defense that came up with eight takeaways, including six interceptions, in a 55-12 win over Whittier. Bouchez had two picks, both of which he returned for touchdowns. He returned his first interception 52 yards for a score, and added a 45-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. He also had three tackles. In addition to being named the SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week, Bouchez was recognized on the D3 football.com Team-of-the-Week.
October 24, 2015 – Austin College converted on a fake field goal in overtime and got a touchdown from senior running back Madison Ross a few plays later to hand home-standing Lyon College a 28-21 overtime loss. It was the team's first overtime game since a 21-14 overtime loss at Millsaps on Sept. 8, 2001, and the team's first overtime win since a 34-28 victory at East Texas Baptist University on October 7, 2000.
November 7, 2015 – Senior running back Madison Ross gains 108 yards on 19 carries, pushing him past the 1,000 yard mark for the year and making him the first Austin College player to hit that milestone since Aaron Kernek in the 2000 season as the 'Roos drop a 41-7 decision to 20th-ranked Texas Lutheran University.
*Top players and top moments were selected in a collaborative effort between Austin College and the conference office.
