GEORGETOWN – Javi Reynoso kicked two second half field goals to help Austin College hold off Southwestern University, 20-13, Saturday in a game that came down to the final seconds.
Southwestern fell to 1-3 on the season while the 'Roos improved to 3-2 in the scheduled non-conference matchup between the SCAC foes.
Laith Tucker drilled a 20-yard field goal with 1:36 left in the game; however Southwestern was unable to recover the ensuing on-side kick as Austin recovered. The 'Roos were able to run out the clock after using a pair of unorthodox kneel downs to run off the final 20 seconds of the game.
Reynoso gave Austin a 17-10 lead near the end of the third quarter and pushed the lead to 20-20 with 4:43 left in the game with his second field of the game. The 'Roos had actually missed a 34-yard field goal, but Southwestern was lined up off-sides giving Austin a second chance which Reynoso converted.
Austin was able to get on the board first when Kyle Crawford broke free and raced 81-yards for the game's first touchdown midway through the first quarter. Crawford caught seven passes for a game-high 115 yards.
The Pirates countered with 1:15 left in the opening quarter later when Justin Pelt connected with Nik Kelly on a quick pass. The first-year corner back saw action on both sides of the ball and broke three tackles racing 38-yards to pay dirt knotting the game at 7-7.
It was the running game for Southwestern that allowed the Pirates to open up the offense as Dylan Wilburn rushed 22 times for his first 100-yard rushing game. Wilburn finished the night with a129 yards on the ground and averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
The rushing attack opened up the offense for Pelt – who was efficient going 14-of-23 for 194 yards. Pelt was able to spread the ball around finding six different receivers as Micah Sherman led the way with five catches for 63 yards.
Austin College pulled ahead at the 12:02 mark in the second quarter as the 'Roos marched 78-yards in 10 plays to take a 14-7 lead. Madison Ross barreled his way into the end zone from 5-yards out to cap the drive.
Southwestern held an Austin College rushing attack to just 97 yards on the ground as A.J. McCort led the Pirates with 8 tackles.
Justin Broussard continued his disruptive ways with two tackles for a loss and 0.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries.
A very clean game saw just one turnover that came on the wrong end. A fumbled exchange in the backfield for the Pirates was the game's only turnover. The total yards on offense were also very similar as the 'Roos finished with 342 yards and Southwestern tallied 339 total yards.
The Pirates continue their October home stand next weekend as NCAA Division II Oklahoma Panhandle State heads to Georgetown. Kickoff is schedule for 1 p.m.
