Hendrix Tops 'Roo Football in Conference Road Game

CONWAY, Ark. - The Austin College football team found itself in a two touchdown hole early and was unable to recover, eventually falling 60-21 to Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Hendrix College in the team's first conference game of the season. The 'Roos are now 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the SCAC.

After getting the opening kickoff, Hendrix got on the scoreboard quickly with a four play, 72 yard drive that lasted just a minute and a half and ended with Jacob Buniff finding Amare Foreman in the endzone to make it 7-0, and the Warriors tacked on another touchdown just under nine minutes later.  This time, Hendrix went 98 yards in 15 plays in a drive spanning nearly six minutes, with Auvic White plunging in from two yards out to make it 14-0 after the first quarter.

The 'Roos got on the board early in the fourth, as Barrett Hudson burst through the Hendrix defense for a 14 yard touchdown run to cut it to 14-7, but the Warriors answered with three straight touchdowns to close the half, sending the 'Roos into the locker room trailing 34-7. White had touchdown runs of 11 and two yards to help the Warriors build their big halftime lead.

The margin grew to 37-7 early in the third on a field goal from Hendrix, before Austin College got on the board again with a 16 yard touchdown throw from Jaylon Talton to Jermiah Johnson with 10 minutes to play in the period. The score remained 37-14 until close to the end of the quarter, when Buniff connected with Brooks McGee for a 24 yard touchdown to make it 44-14 through three frames.

A safety by Hendrix pushed it to 46-14 early in the fourth, and the Warriors added another score on their ensuing drive to make it 53-14 with 9:58 left to play. Leyton Riviere orchestrated an 11 play, 79 yard drive that culminated in a 10 yard touchdown reception by Michael Cress to make it 53-21, but the Warriors added one more score with just under three minutes left, ending the game at 60-21.

Hendrix amassed 646 total yards of offense compared to 314 for Austin College, as the 'Roos were limited to just 14 rushing yards on 16 carries as a team. Talton completed 18-of-34 passes for 218 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, and Riviere connected on 11-of-16 passes for 82 yards with a score. Cress hauled in nine passes for 118 yards and his first touchdown of the season, and Johnson finished with five catches for 76 yards and a score. Bryson McKnight led the 'Roos defensively with eight tackles and a sack.

Buniff led Hendrix with 380 yards through the air to go along with three touchdowns while completing 31-of-45 passes, and Westin Bruce caught seven passes for 139 yards while McGee had nine catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

Austin College is back at Apple Stadium next weekend as the 'Roos host McMurry University for Homecoming, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.