Late Touchdown Lifts 'Roos Past Southwestern

Cooper Woodyard scored on a quarterback draw with just over two minutes remaining to lift the Austin College football team to a 20-17 win over Southwestern University on Saturday. The 'Roos improve to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the win.

Woodyard's difference-making touchdown run came after Madison Ross had picked up a crucial fourth down conversion, and later in the drive with the 'Roos facing third and 10, Woodyard connected with Kyle Mucerino for a 43-yard pass play to set up the game winning score. It was the second rushing touchdown of the day for Woodyard, who finished with 37 rushing yards on nine carries.

Austin College got on the board first with a Javi Reynoso field goal from 35 yards out midway through the opening quarter, but Southwestern answered back with a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead. Woodyard found the endzone from 13 yards out with 3:10 left in the first quarter to give the lead back to Austin College at 10-7.

The second quarter belonged to Southwestern, as the Pirates scored two minutes in to cap off an 11 play, 75 yard drive, and with seven seconds left before halftime a field goal sent SU into the locker room with a 17-10 lead. However, those would be the last points scored for Southwestern as the 'Roo defense held strong in the second half. Reynoso booted a 29 yard field goal to cut it to a 17-13 game early in the third, and that would be the last score for either team until Woodyard's game-winning touchdown rush.

Woodyard also connected on 9-of-18 passes for 173 yards, while Ross finished with 38 yards against a tough Southwestern defensive effort. Mucerino hauled in two passes for 94 yards to lead the 'Roo receivers, and Brooks Ward finished with 11 tackles to lead the defensive effort. Charles Eneh added eight tackles, including 3.0 for loss and a sack, and Darlon Chandler had seven tackles, with 3.0 for loss, and a forced fumble.