Pirates fall in SCAC opener 47-29

Pirates fall in SCAC opener 47-29

Southwestern's potent ground attack was stalled on Saturday as the Pirates fell 47-29 to Austin College to open SCAC Conference action in Sherman, Texas.

Austin College opened with a 12 play, 45 yard drive, but the Pirate defense locked down the 'Roos in the red zone to force a field goal. AC's Reynoso sent it through the uprights to put Austin College on top 3-0.

Laith Tucker had the equalizer with a 28-yard field goal for the Pirates, but Austin College cushioned their lead with a 20-yard touchdown reception to Woodyard with 7:21 remaining in the half, putting the Pirates down 10-3.

The Pirates got to work, however, and constructed a nine play, 99-yard drive that was capped with a 10 yard completion from Bryan Hicks to Taylor Stephens. After a blocked extra point attempt, Southwestern was within one, 10-9, with less than four minutes to play in the first half.

A pair of rushing touchdowns by AC's Ross to close the first half sent the Pirates into the locker room trailing 24-9.

Following the break, Austin College struck fast, scoring on just their second play from scrimmage with a 44-yard completion to Crawford.

Dylan Wilburn rumbled through the AC defense from one yard out, capping off a 6-play, 72-yard drive and cut the lead to 31-16.

Austin College closed the third with a 25-yard touchdown run from Murphy and a 22-yard Reynoso field goal to put SU down 40-16.

Hicks found Micah Sherman open in the end zone on the opening drive of the fourth, but the two-point conversion was unsuccessful as Southwestern trailed 40-22.

AC and SU each added a rushing touchdown in the final three and half minutes to arrive at the 47-29 final.

Bryan Hicks was 25-38 for 334 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Matt Gillen had 11 receptions for 146 yards to lead the Pirates while Sherman added in eight catches for 120 yards with one touchdown.  AC's Jesko was 9-21 for 190 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and Madison Ross posted 189 yards on 23 catches with three touchdowns.

Wilburn led the ground attack with 77 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns.

Defensively, three Pirates had eight tackles on the afternoon; Taylor Fann, Colton Williams and Cody Schindler. Alex Lee had two tackles for loss resulting in 11 yards.

Southwestern falls to 1-6 on the year and 0-1 in the SCAC while Austin College improves to 5-3 overall and begins 1-0 in SCAC action.

The Pirates host their final home game next Saturday as they seek revenge against Trinity for Homecoming. Game time is set for 6 pm.