Austin College Football Drops Season Opener

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College football team jumped out to an early 10-0 lead against visiting Kalamazoo College in the team's season opener, but the Hornets scored the final 14 points of the game and shut down the 'Roo offense over the last three quarters in a 14-10 contest on Saturday evening at Jerry E. Apple Stadium.

After stopping the Kalamazoo offense on the game's opening drive, Austin College took over and marched 80 yards in seven plays to grab an early lead with a three-yard touchdown run by Barrett Hudson with 10:37 left in the first quarter. Jaylon Talton completed a pair of passes to Jermiah Johnson, the first for 23 and the second for 20, to set Austin College up inside the five yard line as the 'Roos went ahead 7-0. A fumbled snap on a punt attempt on Kalamazoo's next possession set the 'Roos up in outstanding field position, and Caleb Balderas drilled a 21-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 6:43 remaining in the frame.

However, those would be the last points of the game for Austin College, as the 'Roos took that 10 point lead into the second period. The Hornets recovered an Austin College fumble early in the second, and shortly after, Dawson Skupin connected with Lucas Hanifan for a 20-yard touchdown strike to cut it to a 10-7 game with 11:46 on the clock. That remained the score heading into the half, as Kalamazoo drove down to the one-yard line on their final possession of the second quarter but Evan Dennis blocked an 18-yard field goal attempt to keep the 'Roos on top at the break.

Austin College looked poised to build its lead early in the third, driving down to the one-yard line but being stopped on fourth and goal, and Kalamazoo turned around and put together a 10-play, 99-yard scoring drive ending with a 53-yard touchdown pass from Skupin to Aaron Zekman to surge ahead 14-10 with 5:56 left in the quarter. Those would wind up being the final points of the game, as neither team was able to get into the red zone the rest of the way.

Kalamazoo outgained Austin College 408-to-268 in the game, includign a 192-to-108 advantage on the ground, while picking up 23 first downs compared to 13 for the 'Roos. Talton finished 14-of-21 for 136 yards and added a team-best 50 rushing yards on eight attempts, while Michael Cress caught seven passes for 81 yards and Hudson rushed 22 times for 44 yards and a score. Pablo Cantu made 12 stops for the 'Roos and Eliel Sandoval had 11 tackles and a sack.

Skupin was 16-of-24 for 216 yards and a pair of scores, adding 98 rushing yards on 21 attempts, and Hanifan caught eight passes for 121 yards. Raymond Cargill had 14 tackles to lead the Hornets defensively.