Sewanee Tops 'Roos in SAA Opener

SEWANEE, Tenn. - The Austin College football team fell to Sewanee 28-20 in is Southern Athletic Association opener on Saturday, dropping the 'Roos to 0-3 overall on the year and 0-1 in conference play.

The 'Roos held a 17-14 lead with about 10 minutes left in the third quarter, but the Tigers would score a pair of touchdowns later in the frame to vault into the lead and Austin College would be unable to mount a comeback in its second road game of the season. Colt Collins threw for 299 yards on 15-of-34 passing with a touchdown and three picks, and Adonis Martin had a huge game receiving, hauling in eight passes for a career-best 195 yards with a score. Reggie Evans also had a career day, rushing 12 times for 113 yards, including a 70-yard scamper.

After a scoreless first quarter, Collins found Martin for the game's first touchdown, a 19-yard connection to give the 'Roos the first points of the game. Sewanee would answer with two touchdowns later in the second quarter to make it 14-7 heading into halftime. A 2-yard score by Evans and a 37-yard field goal by Mateo Pritzkau in the third quarter put Austin College ahead 17-14 with 10:08 to play, but Sewanee would strike twice later in the period to take a 28-17 lead into the fourth. The 'Roos managed to blank the Tigers in the final quarter, but were only able to muster a 23-yard field goal from Pritzkau to make it a 28-20 final.

Austin College gained 560 yards of total offense in the game, compared to 421 for Sewanee. Nathan McLane led the 'Roos with 12 tackles, and Morris Shell added eight stops. Hunter Mills added his team-best third sack of the season, and TJ Melontree came away of his second interception on the year.

The 'Roos return to Apple Stadium next Saturday as Austin College hosts Hendrix College at 1:00 p.m. as part of Mel Tjeerdsma Day, celebrating the legendary former coach of the 'Roos who will be inducted into the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame later this year.