SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team's Homecoming game was spoiled by the visiting Millsaps College Majors on Saturday afternoon at Jerry Apple Stadium, with the Majors topping the 'Roos 26-11 to drop Austin College to 2-5 on the season and 0-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
The 'Roos looked strong moving the ball on the opening drive of the game, with quarterback JR Ohr rushing for 39 yards and passing for 26 yards on a 13 play, 66 yard drive, but the 'Roos failed to convert on 4th and 1 at the Millsaps six yard line to keep the game scoreless.
On the ensuing drive, Majors quarterback Juan Joseph connected on all seven of his pass attempts and Tyson Roy rushed for 36 yards as the Majors marched down the field for a 12 play, 94-yard drive for the score. The Majors got onto the board with 4:38 to go in the first quarter, but a missed point after kept the score at 6-0.
Austin College answered on its next possession with a 12 play, 68 yard drive spanning into the second quarter. The 'Roos looked to be stopped facing a 3rd and 18 from the Millsaps 37 yard line on the drive, but Ohr found Eric Shon down the sideline for a 28 yard strike and a first and goal situation. The Majors defense tightened up inside the 10-yard line, and the 'Roos were forced to settle for a 22-yard field goal by John Reisig to make the score 6-3 with 13:12 left in the half.
The 'Roo defense forced a Millsaps punt on the next possession, but the Majors defense held Austin College to a three and out. On the ensuing punt attempt, the snap sailed high over the head of punter Clint Rushing, who recovered in the Austin College endzone for a safety to make the score 8-3 in favor of the Majors.
Austin College put together another solid drive on their next possession, moving 69 yards in 13 plays late in the half, but Reisig's 39-yard attempt field goal attempt sailed wide left with 37 seconds before halftime. The Majors would run out the clock to keep things at 8-3 headed into the break.
In the second half the Majors came out on fire offensively behind the passing of Joseph 5-of-6 passes for 57 yards in an 11 play, 77 yard drive that culminated on a touchdown throw of four yards from Joseph to Kennedy Griffin. After an offsides penalty against the 'Roos on the point after attempt moved the ball to just outside the 1-yard line, Joseph found Chris Jackson in the endzone for the two-point conversion to make the score 16-3 with 10:31 in the third quarter.
Austin College used its ground game to put together the start of a solid drive on its next possession, but a Ryan Cowley fumble gave the Majors the ball back in their own territory. The Majors drove 66 yards in seven plays after the fumble recovery, but the 'Roo defense managed to hold them to a 31-yard field goal by William Lawrimore to make it a 19-3 game late in the third quarter.
It did not take long for Cowley to make up for his fumble though, as the junior busted off a 55-yard kick return to take the ball down to the Majors 22-yard line and immediately followed that up with a 22-yard run up the middle for an Austin College touchdown. Cowley was not finished, however, taking the handoff on the two-point conversion attempt and pounding his way into the endzone to make it a 19-11 game.
The momentum seemed to be swinging in the 'Roos favor when Peyton Woodyard intercepted a Joseph pass on the second play of the next Majors possession, but the interception was waved off due to a roughing the passer call against Austin College to give Millsaps a fresh set of downs.
After Millsaps failed to convert on fourth and long and the 'Roos were forced to punt on the final play of the third quarter, the Majors offense wasted little time adding another score, needing only 2:05 to go 86 yards to open the fourth quarter. Tyson Roy rushed three times for 34 yards on the drive and Joseph connected on 3-of-3 passes for 34 yards, including a touchdown throw to Tye Menist to make the score 26-11.
The score went final when Ohr's final attempt with under a minute to play was intercepted by Michael Sims, and the Majors ran out the rest of the clock.
Cowley finished the game with 99 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Ohr rushed for 72 yards on 15 attempts while completing 7-of-14 passes for 88 yards and a pick. Thomas Derricks led the 'Roos defensively with 10 tackles, and Austin Coachman had nine tackles from the secondary. Woodyard finished with eight tackles, and Adam Pierce had seven tackles and three pass breakups.
Roy led the Majors rushing attack with 148 yards on 21 carries, and Joseph completed 28-of-40 passes for 272 yards and three scores. Jackson had nine catches for 112 yards. Defensively, Millsaps was led by Shawn Gillenwater, who racked up 11 tackles, including a sack.
With the win, the Majors improve to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in SCAC play. The win puts Millsaps and Trinity in a two-way tie for first place as they will return home this week to host DePauw University at 1:30 p.m.
