SHERMAN, Texas – Millsaps piled up 283 yards and scored 23 second half points on their way to handing the Austin College football team a 33-27 loss at Apple Stadium on Saturday, dropping the ‘Roos to 0-6 on the year including 0-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
The Majors took advantage of a slow start offensively by Austin College to jump out to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, getting a 17 yard touchdown pass from Konner Joplin to Tony Bellan with just over 11 minutes to play in the first quarter to cap off a seven play, 80 yard drive and adding a 27 yard field goal from Beau Brady just three seconds into the second quarter.
However, on the ensuing Austin College possession Noah Jesko found Jordan Schell on the first play of the drive for a 66 yard touchdown strike to cut it to a 10-7 lead, and after Austin College marched it down the field at the end of the quarter, the ‘Roos were unable to square things up and the teams went into the break with the Majors holding their three point lead.
In the second half, however, Majors running back Thomas Theriot took control, gaining 105 yards on nine carries in the third quarter alone as Millsaps scored twice in the quarter. Theriot scored on a six yard run with 5:37 left in the frame, and after a 66 yard kick return by Sean Sweeney set Austin College up for a 14 yard touchdown scramble by Jesko less than a minute later, the Majors once again went right down the field with a seven play, 80 yard drive capped by a 31 yard touchdown pass from Garrett Pinciotti to Jason O’Rear to make it 23-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Majors expanded the lead to 30-14 early in the fourth when Pinciotti took a quarterback keeper from less than a yard out, but Austin College came right back with a nine play, 53 yard drive ending in a four yard touchdown pass from Jesko to Mitch Trentman with 5:55 remaining, making it 30-20 after the ‘Roos failed to convert the two-point try.
After the Majors recovered the on-side kick attempt, Millsaps would add three more points on a 42 yard field goal by Brady with 1:38 to seemingly put the game away with the score 33-20. However, the ‘Roos quickly went on an eight play, 65 yard drive with Jesko scoring again on the ground, this time from four yards out with 15 seconds remaining to cut it to a 33-27 game. Once again, though, the Majors managed to recover the on-side kick, ending Austin College’s chance for a miraculous comeback.
Jesko finished the game completing 15-of-29 passes for 228 while throwing for two touchdowns and an interception and rushing for two more scores to lead the ‘Roos offensively in his first career start. Schell was the top receiver for Austin College, hauling in four passes for 132 yards on the day. Kenneth Eneh and Justin Ontiveros each made 12 tackles and Sweeney finished with nine and broke up four passes.
Theriot finished the day rushing for 175 yards on 28 carries and Pinciotti completed 10-of-18 passes for 163 yards coming on in relief of Joplin, who finished the day connecting on 13-of-18 passes for 157 yards. O’Rear caught nine passes for 167 yards, and Marvis O’Sirio led the Majors with eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and three passes defended.
Austin College gets next week off and returns to action on October 22 when they travel to Memphis to take on Rhodes College.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges that Change Lives.