GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Southwestern University football team scored 14 points in the final eight minutes, but the rally came up short, as Trinity escaped with a 26-21 win Saturday evening at Birkelbach Field.
The Tigers (6-1) led 26-7 in the fourth quarter before a pass from Austin Grauer was picked off by Mason Ford and returned 27 yards for a touchdown.
Trinity then saw its next drive stall before punting the ball back to the Pirates (2-5). Bryan Hicks led a 97-yard drive in just over a minute that culminated in a 20-yard touchdown pass to Micah Sherman, which trimmed the Tigers' lead to five points.
However, Trinity was able to run all but the five seconds off the clock on its final drive. Hicks had one final pass attempt, but it fell incomplete as time expired.
The two teams combined for only 477 yards while playing with a steady rain falling throughout the contest, which featured eight turnovers.
Hicks led the Pirates' offense with 247 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Ford and Zach Cole both racked up 11 tackles, while Ford had three for loss and an interception. Justin Broussard posted 10 stops, including three for loss, and a sack.
The contest started with a bang, as both teams scored on their first play from scrimmage.
Following the opening kickoff, Jeremy Simmons busted through the line and raced 73 yards for the opening score to put the Tigers on top early.
Southwestern answered back on its first play, as Hicks launched a 58-yard touchdown pass to Nik Kelly down the right sideline.
Trinity regained the advantage in the opening period, as a Hicks pass was picked off and returned 51 yards for a score by Luke Packard.
Colby Doyal then connected on four consecutive field goals over the next three quarters to give the Tigers a 19-point lead before the Pirates attempted its comeback.
Southwestern will return to action on next Saturday, as it hosts Austin College in the first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tilt of the season. The Pirates defeated the Kangaroos 35-28 on Oct. 3 in Sherman. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
– SOUTHWESTERN –