'Roo Football Edged in Season Opener

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Austin College football team battled back in the second half against Kalamazoo but came up short, falling 26-20 on Saturday afternoon in the team's season opener. The 'Roos will be looking to bounce back next Saturday at home against Rhodes.

Jaylon Talton went 15-of-23 for 264 yards and a pair of scores and Michael Cress hauled in six passes for 122 yards, while Jacob Brewer caught four passes for 52 yards and both of Talton's touchdown throws in his collegiate debut. Brady Dygert made 13 stops to lead the 'Roos defensively, also coming away with 1.5 tackles-for-loss, but Kalamazoo got 333 passing yards on 30-of-48 attempts by Josh Nichols, and two different receivers each went over the century mark. 

Kalamazoo struck first with a touchdown late in the opening quarter, with Nichols finding Lucas Hanifan from 10-yards out to cap a 16-play, 97-yard drive. The point after failed, allowing Austin College to go ahead 7-6 early in the second quarter after Talton found Brewer for a 26-yard scoring strike. However, Hanifan hauled in another touchdown pass from Nichols late in the second quarter and Jonah Spates added a 57-yard touchdown reception just before the break, sending the 'Roos into the locker room trailing 20-7.

Kalamazoo tacked on a field goal early in the third quarter to make it 23-7, before Caleb Balderas hit from 33-yards out to cut it to 23-10 after three quarters. Balderas knocked home a 28-yard field goal with 10:46 left in the fourth to make it 23-13, but Kalamazoo got those three points back with a field goal with just under six minutes to play to make it 26-13. Austin College put together an eight-play, 80-yard drive late, culminating in Talton finding Brewer from 11 yards out to make it 26-20 with 48 seconds left, but that's as close as Austin College would get in the closing moments of the game.

Barrett Hudson rushed for 50 yards on 18 carries and Zyan Stewart added 41 yards on 13 rushes in the collegiate debut for both players, and Marques Williams made nine tackles for the 'Roos. Spates caught eight passes for 135 yards and Hanifan finished with 11 catches for 118 yards. Kalamazoo finished with 394 yards of total offense, while the 'Roos finished with 356 in the game.