Hendrix Spoils Homecoming for 'Roo Football

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team fell 41-12 to visiting Hendrix College on Saturday, as the Warriors used a big third quarter to blow things open on Homecoming Weekend. The 'Roos are now 4-3 overall and 3-2 in Southern Athletic Association play with the defeat.

The Warriors used several explosive plays to put points on the board throughout the game, beginning with a 28-yard touchdown strike on their first drive as Miles Thompson found Chad McGonigal on fourth down to make it 7-0 with 10:26 on the clock. The 'Roos answered with an 11-play, 67-yard drive capped off by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Colt Collins to Maika Brinkerhoff, but on the ensuing kickoff, Kip VanHoose raced 84 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-6 after the point after attempts for both teams failed.

Hendrix would add to their lead early in the second quarter as Thompson rushed 13 yards for the score to make it 20-6 with 11:33 left in the half, and that's where things would stand at the break. Hendrix got on the board quickly in the second half, as McGonigal went 67 yards on a pass from Thompson to make it 27-6 just 26 seconds into the third quarter.

The lead grew to 34-6 on a 43-yard touchdown strike from Thompson to Blake Hinton 10 minutes later, and Thompson would toss his fourth touchdown of the game 11 seconds into the fourth quarter to push the margin to 41-6. Austin College got on the board late as Evan Powell darted 51 yards with under a minute remaining, making it a 41-12 final after the point after attempt was blocked.

Austin College was limited to 300 yards of total offense in the game, while the Warriors amassed 549, including 358 through the air. Collins completed 18-of-37 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added 30 yards on the ground, while Powell finished with 52 yards to lead the rushing attack. Brinkerhoff caught four passes for 52 yards and a score, and Keegan Nichols led the defensive effort with 14 tackles.

Thompson connected on 20-of-27 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns, and also led the Warriors with 59 rushing yards. Hinton caught seven passes for 107 yards, and Matthew Scirto led Hendrix with seven tackles.

Austin College heads out on the road next weekend, taking on Birmingham-Southern on November 2 with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.